Don’t let the smiles fool you.
Don’t be bamboozled by the positive public statements and don’t get distracted by Christina El Moussa’s slamming bikini body.
Just because Tarek El Moussa and his estranged wife have said nice things about each other, and just because they are still filming Flip or Flop episodes together, this doesn’t mean all his serene and simple behind the scenes.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
If a new E! News report is to be believed, that is.
For years, of course, Christina and Tarek were simply known as two of many popular HGTV personalities.
They co-hosted a series in which they purchased dilapidated houses, fixed them up and then sold them for a hefty profit. Or tried to, at least.
Tarek was in charge of renovation, Christina was in charge of design, we got a few glimpses of the couple as parents and viewers enjoyed Flip or Flop as a form of mindless entertainment.
But then it came out late last year that the El Moussas separated back in May, following an explosive argument that ended with Tarek storming out of the home… a gun in hand.
He was eventually tracked down by the police and claimed at the time that the weapon was merely meant as self-defense against wild animals in the woods.
No charges were filed and the reality stars confessed to their separation in a joint statement.
Since then, Tarek has filed for divorce, but he and Christina have said all the right things about each other and how their focus remains on co-parenting six-year old Taylor and 19-month old Brayden.
No ill will has been made public.
But that doesn’t mean none exists.
“He has a really bad temper,” an insider tells E! News of Tarek, emphasizing how the temper is “really bad” and adding:
“He can go crazy. He treated her poorly.”
We’ve heard a similar sentiment shared in the past.
One tabloid even ran a cover story that alleged Tarek often joked about raping Christina on the set of their TV show.
This is a topic that should never be made into a joke, it ought to go without saying.
“She put up with a lot. I think she really lost herself in that relationship,” the E! source adds, while a second mole echoes what this first individual claims:
“Tarek has major anger issues and a really bad temper…They were volatile together, but Tarek treated her very badly.”
This is the part where we wonder whether or not Christina leaked these quotes. Or had someone on her team do so.
While Tarek has sat down for just a single morning show interview since the couple split, Christina has been everywhere.
She’s covered People Magazine. She’s talked to Entertainment Tonight. She’s flaunted her body in a two-piece bathing suit and she’s clearly made a conscious effort to win the PR battle.
Which she’s doing at the moment. By a landslide.
A rep for Christina had no comment when asked for his/her thoughts by E!, while a rep for Tarek referred to these anger allegations as “crap.”
After previous chatter came out that also claimed Tarek treated Christina like “garbage,” the HGTV star issued a statement on Twitter and Instagram that read as follows:
No matter the lies, innuendo, salacious gossip and ‘fake news’ that is thrown at me from irresponsible media outlets via anonymous sources, I will keep my focus on what matters most, which is co-parenting our children and working hard on our business.
And it’s not as though Christina is saying anything very different.
“Tarek and I are in a very good place right now,” she told E! News’ Carissa Culiner last week, adding:
“We’re doing a really good job. We share the kids 50/50 and our communication is great.”
