Tarek and Heather El Moussa Face Backlash for 'Violent' Instagram Skit

Reality TV stars Tarek and Heather El Moussa ignited controversy with their latest Instagram post, earning criticism for its depiction of violence against men. Amidst the backlash, the couple defended their skit, emphasizing its comedic nature.

Tarek and Heather El Moussa, the stars of HGTV's "Flip or Flop" and "Flipping 101", have sparked a heated debate online after posting a video on Instagram that has been widely criticized for its violent overtones. In the video, Heather is seen approaching Tarek from behind and placing a trash bag over his head. The clip abruptly cuts to Heather throwing the "full" trash bag over her shoulder and discarding it in an outdoor garbage can.

Accompanying the video was a caption that read: "When your husband tells you we’re filming a show with his ex wife." The caption was set to the tune of JoJo's 2004 hit song "Leave (Get Out)."

The video swiftly drew a barrage of negative reactions from followers of the reality stars. Numerous users expressed their disapproval, labeling the skit as "violent" and "not funny." One commenter wrote, "This isn’t funny. This is very violent and there have been too many REAL LIFE murders like this. Don’t want to rain on your parade but change the optics."

Tarek directly addressed this comment, stating, "in this case it’s a husband and a wife playing." However, his response failed to placate detractors.

One user's comment, which condemned the skit for its disrespect towards Tarek, prompted a response from Heather. She wrote, "take a break… calm yourself. My husband is in on the joke… And don't forget I came from a world famous show myself on a network called Netflix and my husband and I are creating our new shows together."

Tarek further defended the video by attributing its negative reception to a lack of understanding of the couple's sense of humor.

Despite the backlash, some fans defended the video, appreciating the El Moussas' attempt at humor. One user wrote, "oh geez, lighten up! Dark humor is hilarious!" Another commented, "This is the absolute best thing I’ve seen all day."

This is not the first time that Tarek and Heather have shared comedic skits on social media. In a previous TikTok video, Heather and Christina Hall, Tarek's ex-wife, joked about their physical similarities. The video featured both women wearing matching outfits and hairstyles, drawing attention to their striking resemblance.

In May, HGTV announced that Tarek and Heather would compete against Tarek's ex-wife, Christina Hall, and her husband Josh Hall in a new series, "The Flip Off." The show is set to premiere in 2025.