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It’s been a rollercoaster year for HGTV’s golden couple, Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa and the whispers about trouble behind closed doors are getting louder.
Sources close to production of The Flip Off say Tarek’s off-camera moods have become unpredictable, while Heather has admitted publicly that their marriage is, in her words, “a work in progress.”
Between canceled shows, parenting challenges, and the constant glare of reality-TV fame, fans can’t help but wonder: Are the El Moussas showing the first cracks in their picture-perfect empire or just surviving another season of pressure?
According to a source, Tarek has been displaying signs of mounting stress on and off set.
“He has good days and bad days,” the insider said. “Some days, you never know what kind of Tarek you’re going to get. He chews his fingernails off daily. He can’t sit still. It’s like he sees red, he just becomes unhinged.”
HGTV stars Heather Rae and Tarek El Moussa pose for a promotional photo from their series The Flipping El Moussas.
These claims haven’t been verified by Tarek or his representatives, but they mirror what some fans have noticed in recent months: a sharper edge in his interviews and a visible sense of strain.
With The Flipping El Moussas canceled after only two seasons, one insider suggested that Tarek feels pressure to maintain the couple’s success and lifestyle, adding, “He’s under pressure to keep up this brand of being the HGTV power couple.”
Heather, 38, didn’t deny that things have been challenging.
In October interview promoting her clean beauty brand, Heather Rae Essentials, she described the couple’s marriage as evolving rather than perfect.
“It’s a work in progress,” she said honestly. “Marriage is a work in progress in general. Like, you’re with this person every day, there’s no quick fix. You just keep growing and learning.”
Heather revealed that therapy has helped them navigate tough conversations.
“We were able to talk about some hard things that maybe we couldn’t at home,” she explained. “When we’re in therapy, we feel safer to say, ‘Hey, this is how I feel,’ and our therapist helps moderate. I feel like it can bring us closer.”
Despite the strain, she insists the love is still there.
“We have so much fun together. We laugh all the time. I think people forget to keep dating their partner after a few years, that’s something we’re learning again.”
Behind the polished home flips and social media smiles, the El Moussas are also new parents. Their son Tristan, born in 2023, has brought joy but also exhaustion.
“Tristan had a severe tongue tie, a recessed jaw, and jaundice,” Heather revealed.
“I was managing all that while filming a TV show, doing interviews, and helping with Tarek’s older kids. It was divide and conquer, he’d take Taylor and Brayden to sports, I’d be home breastfeeding and figuring it all out.”
The couple’s juggling act mirrors what many working parents face, but in their case, it plays out under cameras, deadlines, and fan scrutiny.
“We reunited and conquered everything together,” Heather said, crediting humor and teamwork for getting them through.
When The Flip Off premiered, it promised high-stakes home renovations and playful rivalry. What fans got was something spicier, the return of Christina Haack, Tarek’s ex-wife and co-star.
“It’s all about winning,” Heather said. “We do not want her to win. We won the first round, and now we’ve got to be on our game because she’s motivated to beat us.”
HGTV stars Tarek El Moussa, Heather Rae El Moussa, and Christina Haack appear together in a promotional image for their reality competition series The Flip Off.
While both women maintain a professional relationship, insiders claim that on-set tension occasionally flares, especially when the cameras stop rolling.
There’s no sign of outright hostility but as one producer put it, “There’s always a little static when exes and current spouses share screen time.”
Still, the competitive chemistry between the trio is a major reason The Flip Off has become one of HGTV’s most talked-about new shows.
In a lighter revelation, Heather recently shared that Tarek was once approached to join Dancing With the Stars, though the confident TV renovator apparently wasn’t so sure about his dance moves.
“The man can dance a little,” she laughed. “I don’t think he thinks he can. But I’d totally do it with him, may the best couple win!”
Heather Rae El Moussa promotes her clean beauty brand, Heather Rae Essentials, showcasing one of her signature lip glosses in a poolside photoshoot.
The couple’s playful banter offers a glimpse into what still works between them: humor, partnership, and a shared ambition.
Off-camera, Heather’s focus has shifted to entrepreneurship, and her Heather Rae Essentials line sold out within 48 hours of launch.
“I’m obsessed with my products,” she said proudly. “Even Tarek uses the lip gloss sometimes. Don’t tell him I said that.”
For all the speculation, both Heather and Tarek continue to show a united front publicly attending events, posting family photos, and promoting The Flip Off together.
Rumors about Tarek’s stress and behavior remain unconfirmed, but it’s undeniable that the couple is under immense pressure: balancing blended family life, fame, and fan expectations while living in the constant feedback loop of reality TV.
Heather’s words “marriage is a work in progress” may be the most honest reflection yet. For now, the El Moussas seem determined to keep building, even if some walls have started to crack.
Are Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa still together in 2025?
Yes — they remain married as of October 2025, though Heather has acknowledged that they are actively working on their relationship.
Why was The Flipping El Moussas canceled?
HGTV reportedly shifted its programming lineup after two seasons of modest ratings. The couple now stars in The Flip Off alongside Christina Haack.
Is The Flip Off scripted?
Like most reality TV, the show follows real interactions but is edited for drama and pacing.
What is Heather Rae Essentials?
Heather’s clean beauty brand, launched in February 2025, offers cruelty-free lip glosses and skincare products inspired by her camera-ready lifestyle.
Did Christina Haack rejoin Tarek El Moussa for The Flip Off?
Yes. Christina Haack returned to work with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his wife, Heather Rae, in HGTV’s The Flip Off, creating both on-screen tension and fan intrigue.
