Christina Haack Says Tarek El Moussa's Mom Told Her Not to Marry Him

Christina Haack shared a story about her mother-in-law on The Flip Off, her and ex-husband Tarek El Moussa's new HGTV series.

By Corinne Heller Feb 06, 2025 7:20 PM
| Updated Feb 06, 2025 7:20 PM
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Watch: Why Christina Haack Says Filming 'The Flip Off' Is “So Much Easier” After Josh Hall Exit

Christina Haack's first mother-in-law may have foreseen the future when it came to the HGTV star's relationship with her son.

Seven years after finalizing her divorce from Tarek El Moussa, his Flip-Off costar shared what his mom Dominique El Moussa-Arnould—with whom she has remained close since their TK year divorce—once told her before the two married in 2009.

"We have a very good relationship," Haack, 41, told her teammate Kylie Wing about her ex-husband's mother on the Feb. 5 episode of the former couple's new HGTV show, while discussing Dominique's role as a guest judge, "and she even told me not to marry him and to marry the dog. For real."

The Christina on the Coast star—whose own mom Laurie Haack also served as a guest judge on the episode—also shared insight into her and Dominique’s bond. "I have a long history with Tarek's mom,” Christina noted in a confessional. “She's traveled with me post-divorce of Tarek, me and the children, we talk on the phone. I definitely feel like I'm her favorite."

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Why Christina Haack Says Filming The Flip Off Is “So Much Easier” After Josh Hall Exit

Indeed, Domnique shared warm words for her former daughter-in-law while sharing a recent life update.

"What a fun week I had!" the 70-year-old wrote on her Instagram Feb. 2, alongside pics of Tarek, his wife Heather Rae El Moussa and his and Christina's son Brayden El Moussa, 14, at a hockey game. "Two parties at Christina's beautiful house, and today a Ducks game against team from Montreal, Canada! Great game too."

Christina—who also shares daughter Taylor El Moussa, 14, with Tarek and is also a mom to son Hudson London Anstead, 5, from her past marriage to Ant Anstead—showed the post some love by sharing red heart emojis.

Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

The Flip-Off is a full family affair, with Tarek and Heather competing against Christina—who was originally set to compete opposite now-estranged husband Josh Hall—in flipping houses. And Christina was not the only person happy to have her mom and Dominique on board.

Heather, who shares son Tristan El Moussa, 12 months, with her husband, praised Tarek's mother over her participation on the show. "@dominiqueelmoussa was an Amazing judge," the Selling Sunset alum, 37, wrote on her Instagram Stories. "And tough. We love you!"

Tarek, 43, shared a group pic with himself, his wife, his ex, his mom and Christina's mother, writing on Instagram Feb. 6, "I guess mother does know best…"

Look back at Tarek and Christina's family tree...

Taylor Reese El Moussa, Christina and Tarek's Daughter

Christina and Tarek welcomed their first child together on Sept. 22, 2010.

Following their divorce, the pair continued to co-parent their daughter, who Christina has described as an "old soul who one minute can talk super deep about life and then quickly go back to being a kid."

"Her greatest ability is being able to start a conversation with anyone, anywhere," she said of Taylor. "Fun, smart, athletic, HAPPY, and always keeping us on our toes."

Brayden James El Moussa, Christina and Tarek's Son

Christina and Tarek welcomed their second child together on Aug. 20, 2015.

In addition to their oldest child Taylor, the two have continued to co-parent Brayden after their divorce. In the past, Tarek has described their son as "a ball of energy" and the "sweetest boy with the biggest heart."

"No words can describe how much brighter this boy makes my day," Tarek shared. "I feel blessed every single day to be his and Tay's dad and raising him and seeing him grow up makes me the happiest dad alive."

Ant Anstead, Christina's Second Husband

Almost a year after announcing her split from Tarek, Christina started dating Ant, a TV presenter from England, in October 2017. The two went public with their relationship in January 2018—the same month Christina's divorce from Tarek was finalized—and tied the knot in a winter-themed wedding at their home in Newport Beach, Calif., on Dec. 22, 2018.

Christina and Ant—who is dad to daughter Amelie and son Archie with his first wife Louise Storey—welcomed their first child together, son Hudson, in 2019.

The couple were married for less than two years before announcing their separation in September 2020. Their divorce was finalized nine months later.

Since the split, Ant has moved on with actress Renée Zellweger.

Hudson London Anstead, Christina and Ant's Son

Christina and Ant welcomed their son on Sept. 6, 2019. At the time, the baby boy arrived weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured at 19.5 inches long.

Though they agreed on shared legal and physical custody of Hudson when their divorce was finalized in June 2021, Ant filed for full custody in April 2022, claiming in court documents that his ex spends roughly "9 full days" with their child each month.

The following December, the exes reached an agreement in which both would "continue to have joint legal and joint physical custody" of Hudson, according to court documents obtained by E! News.  

Heather Rae Young, Tarek's Second Wife

Tarek met the Selling Sunset star on the Fourth of July in 2019, when they were partying on boats that had docked next to each other at a marina in Newport Beach, Calif. Later that month, the pair were spotted kissing on a yacht and Tarek confirmed to E! News they were dating that August, saying, "I never thought I'd say this word again, but this beautiful young lady, Heather Rae, is my girlfriend, officially."

The couple got engaged in July 2020 and became husband and wife on Oct. 23, 2021, exchanging vows during a romantic outdoor ceremony near Santa Barbara, Calif.

Heather has often referred to herself as the "bonus mom" of Tarek's two older children, Taylor and Brayden. "I already feel like I have two kids," she previously explained to E! News. "I'm raising Tarek's babies, and we have them 50 percent of the time. I am such a good bonus mommy. I adore those kids. I raise them like they're mine."

Tristan Jay El Moussa, Tarek and Heather's Son

Tarek and Heather welcomed their son on Jan. 31, 2023. At the time, the baby boy arrived weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces.

He was named Tristan because "Tarek was supposed to be named Tristan," according to Heather, "and his parents ended up naming him Tarek."

His middle name is a nod to Heather's dad.

Josh Hall, Christina's Third Husband

After calling it quits with her second husband Ant, Christina began dating Josh in 2021. The pair went public with their relationship that July, with Christina revealing that they had been together for "a few solid months."

According to the Flip or Flop star, she met Josh, a licensed realtor, that spring at a time in her life when she "wasn't in a state of fear or fight-or-flight" and had "taken time off social, hired a spiritual coach and smoked a Bufo toad" to "reset" her brain. 

Christina and Josh got engaged that September and tied the knot on Oct. 6, 2021.

Their actual wedding date wasn't known until Josh filed for divorce on July 15, 2024, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

The pair finalized their divorce in August 2025.

Christina's Parents

Until the process of remodeling her childhood home unfolded on the July 11, 2024, episode of Christina on the Coast, she had kept her roots pretty private, mainly sharing glimpses of her parents as grandparents.

In 2019, she shared in an Instagram post that "we all sit together—my family and Tarek's family" when they watch Taylor perform at her school's annual Christmas concert.

"A couple people acknowledged how nice this is- I know there are a lot of divorced couples (including Tarek's mom and dad) who do this too and it's honestly easier for everyone," she wrote at the time. "Plus Taylor's face lights up when she sees us all in the same row supporting her."

Stacie Adams and Jessica Hall, Christina's Sister-in-Laws

Though Josh's relationship with Christina pushed him into the spotlight, his sisters found fame way back in the aughts.

Stacie—or "Stacie the Bartender" as some fans remember her—was famously the target of Spencer Pratt's flirtations on The Hills. She has also appeared on Vanderpump Rules, most notably on season three as one of the bridesmaids in Scheana Shay's bridesmaids.

As for Jessica, the former Playboy model also made appearances on The Hills, as well as The Girls Next Door, Kendra, Kendra on Top and Kendra Sells Hollywood in support her best friend Kendra Wilkinson.

 

Angelique El Moussa, Tarek's Sister

The older sister of Tarek, Angelique is the owner of Latitude 33 Hair Artistry in Anaheim, Calif. She purchased one of Tarek and Christina's flipped homes on an episode of Flip or Flop in 2014 and later filmed a digital series with her HGTV host bro in 2019.

Dominique El Moussa and Robert Carroll, Tarek's Mom and Stepdad

Tarek's mother Dominique is no longer with the Flipping 101 star's father, whose name he has never publicly shared. She is currently married to Robert, who describes the El Moussa matriarch as "the love of my life" on Instagram.

Tarek's Dad

Tarek has never shared his father's name, though in a November 2017 Facebook post he announced that his "old man" had turned 70 years old.

"The relationship between a father and his children is so important. I was lucky enough to have a supportive and motivating father that made me believe I could accomplish anything in the world," he captioned a picture of the family's birthday celebrations for the patriarch. "I can say that I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of my dad. I will take all the lessons I've learned from him and pass it on to my children."

In an interview with Country Living, Tarek said his father was "raised Catholic in the Middle East in Lebanon and then Egypt" and met his mother, who is from Belgium, in Europe as a teen.

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