Tarek El Moussa, known for his role in the popular HGTV show Flip or Flop, recently shared a deeply personal aspect of his life, shedding light on the challenges he faced following his divorce from his co-star Christina Haack (formerly known as Christina Anstead). In a candid revelation on The Jeff Fenster Show podcast, El Moussa disclosed that he voluntarily lived in a halfway house after the dissolution of his marriage, a decision prompted by his need for intensive care and support during a difficult period of his life.
The 2016 divorce from Haack, with whom El Moussa shares two children, Taylor and Brayden, left him feeling adrift and in need of guidance. “When my ex left me, I went to some soul-searching places,” he confessed. “I actually lived in a halfway house. This is my first time sharing that.” El Moussa’s decision to seek refuge in a halfway house, a facility that offers a range of social, medical, and psychiatric services, underscores the depth of his emotional struggle and the extent to which he felt overwhelmed by the fallout from his divorce.
Reflecting on his marriage, El Moussa acknowledged a period of personal turmoil that preceded the separation, describing a “dark cloud” that loomed over him in the year leading up to the divorce. He candidly admitted to shortcomings in various aspects of his life, including his roles as a husband, father, son, and friend. “I just wasn’t the best human,” he reflected, recognizing the need for self-improvement and introspection.
Despite the challenges he faced, El Moussa took ownership of his actions and acknowledged that there were “no excuses” for his behavior during that tumultuous period. He filed for divorce in 2017, with the legal process finalized the following year, marking the end of his marriage to Haack.
In the years since his divorce, El Moussa has undergone a transformation, finding love and stability in his relationship with Heather Rae El Moussa, a fellow reality TV personality known for her role in Selling Sunset. The couple, who tied the knot in 2021 after a two-year courtship, welcomed their first child together, son Tristan, in 2023. El Moussa’s journey from the depths of despair to a place of newfound happiness and fulfillment serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of finding redemption and love after hardship.
As El Moussa continues to navigate the complexities of co-parenting and rebuilding his life, his story serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges, offering hope and encouragement to those in search of healing and renewal.
