‘Flip Or Flop’ Stars Christina And Tarek El Moussa Speak Out After Shocking Split Announcement

HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” stars Christina and Tarek El Moussa broke their silence two days after they announced their separation. The couple has been married since 2009.

“We decided to separate while we reevaluated the next steps in our married life,” the couple told People Magazine Wednesday. “We believed this was in the best interests of the children and the best way to determine a path forward.”

Christina and Tarek are reportedly seeing other people. “We have both dated other people following the separation, but neither of us is ready to announce anything in terms of another relationship,” they said.

But infidelity is not a cause for their split. Instead, it was a bizarre incident involving a gun.

Christina, 33, called police May 23 after Tarek left their house with a gun in his backpack. She was supposedly “crying and shaking” as she chased after Tarek, 35, who jumped over the fence in their backyard and walked to Chino Hills State Park. Eleven police cars and a helicopter were sent to find him. Tarek claimed he went into the woods to blow off steam and brought a gun with him to ward off wild animals. Rattlesnakes and mountain lions are common in the area.

Police removed five firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, from the home for 30 days. Tarek willingly turned them over.

For now, “Flip or Flop” has not been canceled. “We admire and appreciate Tarek and Christina's great work on ‘Flip or Flop,’” HGTV said in an official statement Monday. “When it comes to matters related to their own family, we respect their privacy and honor any decision that works best for them and their children. HGTV is currently airing episodes of ‘Flip or Flop’ and the series will continue production as scheduled.”

What’s most important to the El Moussas is their children: Taylor, 6, and Brayden, 16 months. “The most difficult part of the decision to separate was the kids. We want the best for them, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that,” the estranged couple told People Magazine.

“Flip or Flop” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on HGTV.

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