“Flip or Flop” couple Tarek and Christina El Moussa announced this week that they’ve separated after nine years of marriage. The HGTV show will continue production despite the split, which might seem like the height of awkwardness — but former romantic partners have managed to peacefully co-exist on the small screen before. Read on for TheWrap’s list of TV shows that have coped with castmates who are also exes.
“One Tree Hill”: Castmates Sophia Bush and Chad Michael Murray had a blink-and-you-missed marriage that ended in September 2005 with their separation after five months. Still, they managed to co-star on the series for a number of years after their split.
“Dexter”: Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter, the stars of the killer Showtime series wed in 2008 but their relationship was deader than one of Dexter’s victims by 2010, when they announced that they had filed for divorce. They continued on with the series through its final run in 2013, which might have been awkward — though perhaps not as awkward as the fact that they played siblings throughout their relationship.
“The Big Bang Theory”: Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, dated while also playing a couple on the series. While the relationship didn’t last, they still manage to work well together on the CBS sitcom, complete with the occasional S&M-themed photo session.
“The O..C.”: Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody didn’t just play a couple on this Fox series — they also carried on a romantic relationship IRL, though they called it quits in late 2006.
“Gossip Girl”: Co-stars Penn Badgley and Blake Lively kept the rumor mill swirling on- and off-screen with their relationship, though they eventually split, and Lively’s pants traveled elsewhere, moving on to her “Green Lantern” co-star Ryan Reynolds.
“The Vampire Diaries”: Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder were involved with each other in a relationship that must have sucked just a little bit, as the two eventually parted ways.
“Alias”: Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan saw plenty of each other while co-tarring on this ABC spy thriller. It wouldn’t be Garner’s last time hooking up with a co-star; her relationship with Ben Affleck was probably the most enduring thing to come out of “Daredevil.”
“Keeping Up With the Kardashians”: Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick’s relationship has been on and off again pretty much throughout the series, but if anyone knows about keeping the money train chugging along, it’s this krew.
“Little People, Big World”: Amy and Matt Roloff, the diminutive stars of this TLC series, finalized their divorce earlier this year, but the show premiered its 12 season last month.
