Tarek El Moussa is facing allegations that he threatened a former employee and lashed out at an assistant, according to previously undisclosed court filings.
The HGTV personality has previously been accused of losing his temper on set, including during his years filming Flip or Flop with his ex-wife Christina Haack and in a heated exchange with wife Heather El Moussa featured on The Flipping El Moussas.
Now, after two lawsuits and a cross-complaint filed by the 43-year-old real estate star, El Moussa is facing a trial this summer, DailyMail.com can exclusively report.
Jeffrey Revoy, 57, a former employee of Tarek Buys Houses, sued El Moussa, co-founder Peter de Best, Tarek Buys Houses and Digital Foundation Group (DFG) in August 2023. His claims include breach of contract, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, assault, and alleged violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act involving harassment and retaliation.
Revoy filed a second California lawsuit against El Moussa and TEM Capital Management, El Moussa’s real estate investment company, in February 2024. That complaint alleges breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims.
In June 2024, El Moussa and DFG filed a cross-complaint in the 2023 case. They accused Revoy of tortious conduct, breach of fiduciary duties, and intentional and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.
Tarek El Moussa has been accused of threatening a former employee and losing his temper with an assistant in a contentious lawsuit
Jeffrey Revoy (pictured) is suing Tarek and other defendants over allegations including breach of contract, wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress
Jeffrey, 57, worked for Tarek Buys Houses from 2021 to 2022
The lawsuits followed Revoy’s termination from Tarek Buys Houses in July 2022. Revoy, an entrepreneur from Utah who traveled to Orange County for the job, had joined the company in September 2021.
According to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Revoy claims El Moussa and de Best, 52, ended his employment “in retaliation” after they learned or suspected that he had formally complained about de Best.
Revoy also alleges the pair were motivated by financial concerns and believed they could save money by withholding his compensation and contractual severance.
The complaint states that Revoy did not receive his severance, all of his earned income or payment for accrued paid time off immediately after his termination.
During a Zoom meeting the following month, El Moussa confirmed that Revoy had been dismissed from DFG, where he had served as CEO, the documents state. However, El Moussa allegedly did not say whether the termination was for cause, and no reason was formally identified.
El Moussa denied in the cross-complaint that Revoy had ever been employed by DFG. Although Revoy was considered for the CEO position, El Moussa claims he “unilaterally inserted himself into DFG’s business” and attempted to obtain an equity stake in DFG and other El Moussa-owned companies.
Revoy’s lawsuit also describes his experience working with the father of three.
One incident allegedly occurred on July 21, 2022, while El Moussa was filming an HGTV production.
Revoy is also suing Tarek’s business partner Peter de Best (pictured with Tarek), co-founder and managing member of Tarek Buys Houses
Revoy alleges that de Best, whom he specifically accuses of assault, “threatened to touch plaintiff in a harmful manner”
Revoy alleges that El Moussa became angry and threw a sandwich at an assistant after discovering that it had no mustard.
“Finding this incident highly upsetting,” an unidentified production crew member reportedly submitted a complaint to HGTV’s human resources department, according to the filing.
“On information and belief, no formal action was taken by HGTV Human Resources because the person struck by the sandwich was not an employee of HGTV,” the complaint states.
Revoy further alleges that, on the same day, a longtime El Moussa employee who worked directly with him submitted a resignation letter citing “inexcusable” conduct, including “screaming, yelling, cussing and calling names.”
Neither the production crew member nor the longtime employee was identified in the lawsuit.
Revoy also claims El Moussa was experiencing cash-flow problems at the time, affecting both his companies and his personal conduct.
“On or about July 7, 2022, El Moussa commented to Revoy via text message that HGTV owed him money,” the complaint says, adding that he blamed his agent for “dropping the ball.”
The filing also alleges that El Moussa withdrew approximately $250,000 from DFG. Revoy claims the funds were not profits and that the withdrawal contributed to a financial shortfall at the company.
Tarek has a history of volatile moments on set, including a widely reported argument with ex-wife Christina Haack during Flip or Flop in July 2021
Reports said he became angry after objecting to the way she signaled that it was time to begin work
Tarek also clashed with wife Heather El Moussa in a recent episode of The Flip Off
Revoy alleges that El Moussa then had to find money to replenish DFG’s accounts and withdrew from a co-investment with Revoy that could have benefited the business because, in El Moussa’s words, “I simply don’t have the money.”
DailyMail.com contacted HGTV for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Another allegation involving threatening language concerns a December 23, 2022 meeting at which Revoy and El Moussa were serving on the board of another entity.
According to Revoy, an investor had made an offer to the entity, and he argued that the board needed to vote on it.
Revoy says El Moussa opposed holding an immediate vote and wanted to delay the decision. Revoy reminded him that the directors were obligated to vote, even if they ultimately rejected the offer.
Revoy claims El Moussa became enraged and said: “F**k you, Jeff, I’m going to destroy you in 2023.”
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The filings also reference a workplace assessment conducted by an outside human resources consultancy in early 2022.
Employees at Tarek Buys Houses reportedly described de Best as “demeaning” and said he “insult[ed] people,” according to the court documents.
He was also accused of using workplace language that was inappropriate, including comments about age and bodies and comparisons between employees and his dog.
Revoy specifically accuses de Best of assault, alleging that he “threatened to touch plaintiff in a harmful manner.”
“At the time Debest threatened to touch plaintiff, he was acting within the course and scope of his employment with TBH and was purporting to act on behalf of TBH,” the complaint states.
“It reasonably appeared to plaintiff that Debest was about to carry out his threat of harm against plaintiff.”
Revoy says he has suffered financial and professional damage, including lost past and future income, employment benefits, career opportunities, unpaid wages, expenses, penalties and interest.
He also alleges psychological and emotional distress, humiliation, and mental and physical pain and anguish.
Revoy is seeking a jury trial and estimates his damages will exceed $25,000.
A case management statement filed earlier this month requested a jury trial that attorneys for El Moussa and the other defendants estimated would last five to seven days.
Tarek was expected to face trial in July 2025 in the case brought by former employee Jeffrey Revoy, who sued him again in 2024 over an alleged ownership dispute involving TEM Capital
The case remains active, and no trial date had been set at the time of the report.
In the second lawsuit, filed in 2024, Revoy alleges that El Moussa named him CEO of TEM Capital but later shut him out of the company’s ownership, management and operations.
Revoy claims that, as co-equal board members and managers, El Moussa held 75 percent of the company, while Revoy held 15 percent. The remaining 10 percent was reserved for Revoy or future employees.
He says he helped negotiate and close TEM Capital’s first two multimillion-dollar real estate deals.
“But once Revoy got the business up and running—and primed and ready for massive success—El Moussa decided he would just keep it all for himself,” the lawsuit alleges.
“So he reneged on their enforceable bargain and pretended—despite all evidence to the contrary—that Revoy never had an interest in TEM Capital.”
The complaint further alleges that El Moussa denied Revoy’s ownership interest and removed him as manager and CEO without the required board approval or membership vote.
Revoy also claims El Moussa withheld profit distributions and removed him from the company’s online banking account. He alleges that El Moussa used Revoy’s role as CEO and co-founder to benefit the company before presenting himself publicly as its sole founder.
“But that approach to lying and cheating his way to sole ownership is, in the end, inept and directly contradicted by hundreds of emails and text messages, controlling legal documents, and the plain as day reality,” the lawsuit states.
The amount at issue in that case exceeds $35,000.
Revoy is seeking an accounting of TEM Capital’s revenue-producing transactions, profits and cash distributions; a constructive trust over his share of net profits based on his claimed 15 percent interest; and a declaration outlining his membership interest and ownership rights.
El Moussa and TEM Capital responded in May 2024, denying all of the allegations.
The breach-of-contract case was scheduled for a jury trial in July 2025, with proceedings expected to last five to seven days.
DailyMail.com contacted El Moussa and the defendants’ attorney for comment.
El Moussa and Christina Haack also made headlines after a reported argument on the set of Flip or Flop in July 2021. TMZ reported that the dispute began after El Moussa objected to the way Haack signaled that it was time to work.
Production sources told the outlet that El Moussa launched into a verbal tirade and compared Haack with his then-fiancée Heather, saying Heather was hotter and wealthier.
Tarek currently appears alongside Heather El Moussa and Christina Haack on The Flip Off
The Flip Off follows the trio as they renovate and flip a home in pursuit of the biggest possible profit
Sources also claimed that El Moussa said he had “made” Haack and called her a “washed-up loser.”
“Look at me, look at me, look at me. It’s called winning,” he reportedly shouted, before adding, “The world knows you’re crazy!”
In a January 2025 episode of The Flipping El Moussas, El Moussa had another on-camera dispute, this time with Heather while working alongside his sister, Angelique.
The disagreement began over the choice of bathroom tile and escalated into a shouting match between the married couple.
“You’re the one who’s making it confusing!” El Moussa shouted, prompting Heather to reply, “No I’m not!”
Frustrated, El Moussa walked away from the table and said, “All right, break!”
El Moussa currently stars in The Flip Off with Heather and his former wife Christina. In the latest episode, Christina’s ex-husband Ant Anstead also became involved in a tense confrontation with Christina and El Moussa.
