Christina Makes an Appearance for Success Path — Without Tarek

Just days after Tarek demanded spousal support in his Jan. 9 divorce filing, Christina focused on shoring up her business interests. On Jan. 14, with daughter Taylor in tow, she flew to San Francisco to briefly attend a workshop for Success Path, her and Tarek’s real estate investment seminar program that claims to teach would-be moguls how to flip houses and earn big, while charging fees that can reach $40,000 and higher. When asked about the key to surviving a divorce, Christina said, “Just stay positive and focused on what’s important. Don’t let negative people fill your life.” She participated in a five-minute Q&A where she answered prepared questions — and gave students the hard sell, but didn’t let them ask questions. After explaining that she got her real estate license after college, where she majored in public relations, Christina urged the audience to “get educated. Exactly what you are doing right now is what you need to be doing. Just get yourself out there and take action now!” During the free seminar, students were urged to sign up for more classes that started at $1,997 (advanced courses cost much more and the program routinely upsells consumers). And Christina tried to sell it. “I do all of this for my children,” she said. “We want to take care of them. They are most important to us. Invest in your family’s future. It’s worth it.” the source, noting that there was a marked change in their interactions following the explosive fight in May that saw Christina call 911 after Tarek fled the house with a gun — something he later told cops was for protection from wild animals when he went on a hike to blow off some steam. “The worst of their fighting erupted throughout May, June and July,” says the source. But publicly she and Tarek kept up the facade that their marriage was intact.

It was during this time that Tarek tried to clean up his act, claims the source.

“One day Christina yelled at Tarek about a bill that was mailed to their home. She questioned him about $40,000 in expenses for some type of treatment and told him, ‘ You’re crazy. $40,000?’ She was visibly upset with him that he was spending that much money” on it, adds the source, who witnessed the fight. “Christina was mad because Tarek was very dismissive about it and brushed it off.”

After seeking treatment, Tarek wanted people to know he was better.

“On the set of season six, he told everyone how he was a changed man. He bragged that he does yoga now and gets to walk on the beach all day,” says the source. “He was constantly telling people, ‘I’m happy Tarek now,’ that he was ‘a new man’ and was going to be a better husband and father” to their kids, Taylor, 6, and Brayden, 17 months. Tarek never

said what type of treatment he received, but he explained to the crew the things he was not doing anymore. The source recalls, “He said he isn’t smoking cigarettes anymore. He also said, more than once, ‘I don’t drink anymore.’ He’d told people, ‘I do yoga now’ and ‘I’m cured now.’”

Despite his claims last summer that he was making big changes, Tarek’s efforts were too little, too late for Christina.

Even before their May blowup, “It was clear to everyone on the show that Christina was already over him,” says the source. “There was a lot of tension. On lunch breaks or whenever there was downtime on set, Christina sat in her car to get away from Tarek. He constantly pestered her.” When asked a series of questions about his behavior toward his wife and also what type of treatment he underwent, Tarek refused to address any specifics. Instead, he issued this statement to In Touch: “No matter the lies, innuendo, salacious gossip and ‘fake news’ that is thrown at me from irresponsible media outlets via anonymous sources, I will keep my focus on what matters most, which is co-parenting our children and working hard on our businesses.”

Despite Tarek’s words implying he and Christina are not at odds, he’s going after her in court.

On Jan. 9, he filed divorce papers in which he demanded spousal support, asked a judge not to give Christina any and requested that she pay his attorney fees. Just weeks before the divorce filing, In Touch revealed just how hellish the split had gotten, but Tarek and Christina desperately tried to downplay their split, insisting they were reevaluating “the next steps in our married life.”

It was just another lie to keep up the facade that their breakup wasn’t as nasty as it really was.

But Christina is now putting more distance between herself and her ex. She explained to viewers in a Jan. 12 Instagram post that that night’s episode of Flip or Flop was filmed way back in 2015, a move some believe she made to ensure any affection- ate moments between her and Tarek wouldn’t be misinterpreted.

Christina wants to stay on TV — without Tarek.

Though HGTV issued a statement in December saying Flip or Flop would go on — season six is currently airing — multiple insiders confirm that Christina is asking for her own show. “Producers are planning to pull Flip or Flop,” says a network insider. “They’re livid about the very public drama between two of their biggest stars and think it’s hurting their brand tremendously.” So Christina is jockeying to secure a deal that doesn’t include Tarek. “HGTV has witnessed their nonstop fighting and drama, and Christina knew that if she didn’t come up with a plan, they both would be cut. She has been talking to HGTV about her own series without him. She told the network she wants a younger, sexier, better-looking co-star.” She didn’t deny her hopes for a solo career when asked about it at one of her and Tarek’s Success Path real estate flipping seminars on Jan. 14 (see sidebar). “I don’t know,” Christina demurred. “I’ve got so many things going on. I’m working on so much already.”

Christina is convinced she can be a bigger star without Tarek holding her back.

“She not only told Tarek that she would start her own design show, but she fancies herself a single version of Joanna Gaines, one of HGTV’S biggest stars thanks to Fixer Upper, her show with husband Chip,” a Tarek and Christina insider tells In Touch. “Christina has told Tarek many times that she didn’t really ever need him.” When they’d fight, claims the insider, she often told him their show wouldn’t work without her.

It drove Tarek crazy, yet all the while on their show they projected an image of partners who had each other’s backs.

Far from it. Behind this facade of the happy couple flipping houses and running a lucrative business together, Tarek was consistently humiliating the woman he loved. “This perfect couple wasn’t so perfect after all,” says the insider. “It was only a matter of time before the marriage blew up.” ◼

‘‘ I think Tarek has a lot of anger issues” — A SOURCE