Christina’s Ex-husband Anstead Shows Tough Love on HGTV’s The Flip Off

LOS ANGELES, CA — In a recent episode of HGTV‘s competition series The Flip Off, viewers witnessed an unexpected reunion as Christina Anstead placed her second ex-husband, Ant Anstead, in the role of guest judge. The episode aired on Wednesday night, previewing the dynamic between the former couple and the ongoing challenges of the house-flipping showdown.

During a phone call with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his wife Heather Rae Young, Christina, 41, revealed Ant as her choice for the guest judge, prompting astonishment from the couple. “What?” exclaimed Young, while Tarek threw up his hands in disbelief.

In a sneak peek of his judging debut, Ant Anstead, 45, delivered critical feedback to Christina about her project. Standing in a house she was renovating, Anstead candidly expressed his frustrations with the unfinished details. “The small details in here are really driving me crazy,” he said, highlighting issues such as missing paint in the corners. Christina responded with a simple, “Like?” to which he pointed out the incomplete work.

Later, while critiquing Heather’s design choices, Ant stated firmly, “At no point in human existence should anybody put wallpaper on the ceilings.” As a pivotal moment, the episode ended on a cliffhanger with Anstead preparing to deliver his verdict, leaving viewers in suspense. “I came in thinking this was about the design, the execution. But actually, this isn’t about houses at all,” he remarked, sparking concern from his fellow judges.

The circumstances of Christina’s selection of Ant as a guest judge surprised Tarek and Heather, who assumed the exes were not on speaking terms following their contentious divorce in 2020. Tarek expressed his shock, saying, “All of a sudden they’re besties,” reflecting the unexpected nature of their current relationship.

In an exclusive interview ahead of The Flip Off’s premiere on January 29, Tarek and Heather discussed the emotional impact of witnessing Christina and Ant’s reconciliation unfold on set. “We were like, ‘What? What’s going on?’” Heather shared. “You see it transpire on TV and we’re so thrown off by the situation.”

Despite their previous relationship turmoil, Christina and Ant have reportedly made peace and are co-parenting their 5-year-old son, Hudson. “[Hudson] deserves to have us get along,” Christina told PEOPLE in a recent interview.

Christina’s burgeoning personal life also made headlines recently as she was spotted on a double date with her new boyfriend Christopher Larocca, alongside Tarek and Heather. This outing marks a significant post-divorce chapter as Christina and Tarek have both been supportive of one another amid their personal transitions.

As the drama continues to unfold in The Flip Off, fans are eagerly tuning in to see how the relationships between these former spouses evolve and how these tensions affect their competitive spirit.

The Flip Off airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.