HGTV’s Tarek El Moussa Comes to His Dad’s Defense in Las Vegas Altercation: Reports

Tarek and Heather El Moussa’s recent trip to Las Vegas was one big, happy family getaway, according to a social media post the HGTV stars shared on June 6, 2025. In the photos and videos Heather posted of the time spent with their parents, there was no mention of any drama.

But on June 10, TMZ reported that Tarek, 43, was cited for battery by Las Vegas police during the trip, after getting into a physical altercation with a man at The Palazzo at the Venetian Resort. The reason? Sources say he was sticking up for his 77-year-old dad.

Heather El Moussa Wrote That Las Vegas Getaway With Tarek El Moussa & Family Was ‘Not Our Average Vegas Trip’

On June 5, per TMZ, law enforcement got involved when Tarek and another male got into an altercation at the Venetian. The outlet said witnesses at the upscale hotel observed the “Flipping 101” star deliver a “brutal knee to the man’s head, knocking him out cold” and that the man looked “seriously roughed up.”

People magazine later reported that the fight occurred when a man allegedly began harassing Tarek’s dad. El Moussa received a citation for battery from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers, but was not arrested, and neither man requested medical assistance, the outlet said.

The El Moussas were in town to see Tarek speak and brought their parents — Heather’s mom and dad; Tarek’s mom Dominique El Moussa and her second husband, Robert Carroll; and Tarek’s dad, Bill Arnould.

No one in the family has commented on the reports, but Heather shared a happy Instagram post the day after the altercation, on June 6, captioning a photo of the group, “Not our average Vegas trip…Watched Tarek do his thing on stage (so proud!) and made it extra special by bringing our parents along for the ride. We got to show them a glimpse behind the scenes — our world, our work, and of course, the glam. Grateful for these moments that we get to spend together.”

On June 9, Tarek shared multiple videos in his Instagram Stories of himself at Target buying toys for his boys — two-year-old Tristan, whom he shares with Heather, and 10-year-old Brayden, whom he shares with first wife Christina Haack — as well as playing at a playground with them and doing trying virtual reality experience with Brayden.

“Recap of boys weekend…” he wrote, while Heather was away on a girls’ trip,. “Had the best weekend with my boys. This virtual reality was such a cool experience.”

Tarek El Moussa Has Been Vocal of His Love for His Dad Over the Years

Tarek’s parents met and married when they were young, he told Country Living in 2018, explaining, “My dad was raised Catholic in the Middle East in Lebanon and then Egypt. My mom’s from Belgium and my dad moved to Europe when he was in his late teens.”

Though they later divorced, both have continued to be deeply involved in Tarek’s life. His mom has appeared on his HGTV shows, including on “The Flip Off” in early 2025, and frequently appears in his and Heather’s social media posts as a doting mom and grandma. But his dad is seen much more rarely.

In 2017, Tarek celebrated his dad’s 70th birthday by posting a family photo on Facebook and writing, “Happy 70th old man!!! The relationship between a father and his children is so important. I was lucky enough to have a supportive and motivating father that made me believe I could accomplish anything in the world. I can say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my dad. I will take all the lessons I’ve learned from him and pass it on to my children. So dad Happy Birthday and I love you!”

For Father’s Day in 2022, Tarek shared an Instagram photo of himself with his dad and sister, Angelique, and wrote, “I never realized how important a good dad was until later in my life. Looking back, I realize I’ve found so much of my success through the lessons my dad taught me growing up. We were always together training for baseball. If it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure where I’d be today. He always taught me the importance of working hard and building one’s confidence. He would never let me quit, he would always teach me to work harder. Now, that I’m a dad, it’s my turn to teach these valuable lessons to my kiddos. I hope you all have an amazing Father’s Day and happy Father’s Day to my dad!❤️”