While they seemed incredibly in love on social media, it seems as if Christina and Ant Anstead's marriage wasn't built to last. The two announced that they were getting a divorce after less than two years of marriage.
This was the star's second high-profile marriage. Prior to romancing Ant, she was married to her Flip or Flop costar Tarek El Moussa. Tarek has also moved on since the split, proposing to his real estate agent girlfriend Heather Rae Young this July.
While both Christina and Tarek moved on quickly, they seemed to make it work for the sake of their children. Ant publicly congratulated Tarek on the news of his engagement, showcasing to the world that they were co-parenting beautifully. Thus, this announcement is a bit of a shock. Especially since Ant was a big part of her spin-off series, Christina on the Coast.
So — is the uncertainty of 2020 to blame? Partially. The stay-at-home orders have disintegrated even the strongest of couples this year. But it seems as if they didn't know how to manage handling life after their son arrived in September 2019.
According to People magazine, things got hectic for the couple, and their relationship started to become strained. Their son, Hudson, just turned 1. "After the baby, they started having conflicts," a source told the publication. Christina shares daughter Taylor, 10, and son Brayden, 5, with Tarek. Prior to their marriage, Ant had daughter Amelie, 16, and son Archie, 14, with his ex-wife Louise Herbert.
For blended families — especially blended families who live at a distance — the stay-at-home orders have been even tougher to emotionally handle. "Christina found it difficult to balance everything," the source continued. Others also said that despite having such a big family, Christina felt lonely.
Having a new arrival right before the crisis also likely made things harder. It's always a challenge for couples to get used to having a baby in the house. But nobody expected things to shut down when that baby was only 6 months old. It's possible that a lot of their support systems were no longer able to help.
While many people feel as if having a baby can be a great way to save a marriage, oftentimes it's the other way around. While babies are incredible — and Christina and Ant are both likely very grateful to have Hudson — they also require a lot of time and patience. Pair that with lack of sleep, and it's easy for relationships to take a hit.
Pair that with being in the public eye, and it's a lot for anyone to handle. Christina and Ant's courtship was fairly short, and it's very possible they never got to see each other stressed out or under a lot of pressure, especially since most of their children are older. Us Weekly first confirmed their relationship in January 2018, although it started a few months earlier.
According to Christina, the relationship started with a phone call. "If you aren't in the mood for a sentimental / mushy post I suggest you keep scrolling," she wrote on Instagram, per Us Weekly. "A year ago today @ant_anstead called me for the first time and we spoke for 29 mins two days later while he was at Sema he FaceTimed me (I was thinking who FaceTimes) anyways I answered and we spoke for 2.5 hours … two days later we met for the first time and we've been inseparable ever since. #FATE."
"You take me for what I am, flawed and a bit crazy, and love all of me just the way I am," she added. "You have never once made me feel bad for anything in my past. You put me in my place when I need to be put there. Hold me when I'm having a bad day. I love this life with you. I love our blended family. I can't wait to see where the next year takes us. I know it's going to be magical."
In June 2018, Christina even admitted that she was the happiest she'd been in a long time, all thanks to Ant and his family. "This is by far the happiest I've been in a while," she told Us Weekly. "I'm really excited about the future. I'm excited about the show, I'm excited about the move, I'm in a great relationship, my kids are doing well. Everything's going really good."
In December of 2018, they got married. That March, they announced that they were expecting their first baby, meaning that they more or less made it a priority to have a child together soon after marriage. "@ant_anstead and I are so excited to announce #babyanstead coming this September," she captioned her Instagram announcement. "The kids are all so excited to meet their new sibling #5 #Gonnaneedabiggercar."
While she and Ant were all smiles then, they likely had no clue how much their child would change up their lifestyle — especially when 2020 hit. Hudson London Anstead was born on September 6. That December, things still seemed strong for the couple.
But this month, Christina announced that they were done as a couple. "Ant and I have made the difficult decision to separate," she wrote on Instagram. "We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority. We appreciate your support and ask for privacy for us and our family as we navigate the future."
Since Christina has become so close to Ant's children, the split may be complicated for plenty of reasons. But hopefully, having gone through divorces before, Christina and Ant know the best way to navigate through this stage in their life. Hopefully, Hudson won't feel as if he's to blame as the years move on. He entered a complicated situation, right before a complicated year.
It's still a reminder that kids are hard work. Even though many celebrities get help in raising their children, it's not an easy job. When you have a child, you have to often put your own wants and needs aside. And when you have a full-time job in the spotlight and other kids who deserve your attention, it can be a lot to juggle.
Even though Ant and Christina may have met, married, and had a child during their honeymoon phase, it doesn't meant that the two no longer love or respect each other. They just came to the conclusion that they're not the best romantic match. With time, they'll be able to figure out their new normal once again.
