Seven years later, Tarek El Moussa is going back to the worst period of his life.
The HGTV star, 42, shares for the first time his side of the story of his highly publicized split from his ex-wife and Flip or Flop co-star Christina Hall, 40, through his book, Flip Your Life: How to Find Opportunity in Distress in Real Estate, Business and Life to be out in Feb. 6. This includes the terrifying 2016 occurrence which included a gun that resulted in their separation.
When the couple’s breakup was made public in December 2016, it was disclosed that they had discreetly broken up seven months prior following an altercation in which El Moussa, brandishing a pistol, left Hall’s place following what he described as a “blowup” dispute.
Just as fast as things had gotten out of hand, she dialed 911, the cops filled the park, and their seven-year marriage ended due to that incident.
In Flip Your Life, Tarek shares his perspective on the events that occurred that day, and in this week’s edition of PEOPLE, he speaks exclusively to the media about it.
He describes in his book that following a furious dispute, he “went out to our backyard in Yorba Linda and hopped over the fence.” The ex-couples agree on that much. But his justification for it is different as he claims that instead of running away, he decided to explore the nearby trails because he was itching for exercise and had just bought some new mountain bikes.
Speaking to PEOPLE about the book, he called the few weeks afterward the breakup “physical and emotional hell” and wrote about hiding out on his boat, passing out from drinking too much, and experiencing severe withdrawal from the testosterone he had been stripping until friends came in and sent him into an addiction treatment facility.
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For a number of years, El Moussa found it challenging to move on from his ex-partner, but he now claims that their relationship is “better than it’s been ever since the separation.” Christina and Heather [El Moussa], Tarek’s wife, are also good communicators. We prioritize the children.”
The book is currently available for pre-order and will be released on February 6.
