Heather Rae El Moussa is under scrutiny for her Valentine’s Day homage, featuring two of her three children. The Selling Sunset former star has a son named Tristan, aged 1, with her husband Tarek, and she is a stepmother to Taylor, 13, and Brayden, 8, from Tarek’s previous marriage to Christina Hall. In her Valentine’s Day tribute, Heather solely showcased the boys and Tarek, omitting Taylor.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my boys T, T & B,” she wrote. “I have never felt so much love in my life. All 3 keep me on my toes but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I am so grateful to have you as my husband my best friend my partner @therealtarekelmoussa. You are my person, and the best daddy I could’ve ever asked for. I love you very much honey and I love you, Tristan and Bray.”
The message was accompanied by a series of photos depicting Heather and her male family members, with no images of Taylor included.
Heather’s followers swiftly inundated the comments section with their thoughts on the exclusion of her stepdaughter.
“You can wish a girl happy Valentine’s too. Sad to just say the male kids,” one wrote.
Another chimed in, “I always love your content but intrigued now by only the boys?”
Others felt more strongly and expressed their outrage and disappointment. “I cannot believe you chose to alienate Taylor on Valentine’s Day. That is SAD,” one commented.
“Completely out of touch. It doesn’t matter where Tay was the fact that she didn’t mention her on a day we celebrate our loved ones shows her character. So inconsiderate,” wrote another.
Some commenters expressed concern for her stepdaughter’s potentially hurt feelings at being excluded from the affectionate display. “What a way to make her feel less than the boys,” noted one follower.
Others questioned whether there was a rift between Heather and her stepdaughter, with one person commenting, “Did you get into a fight with Taylor?”
On Wednesday, the star of Flipping El Moussas also posted a video featuring three flower arrangements displayed on her kitchen counter, seemingly Valentine’s gifts from her husband and all three children. “Thank you my loves, @therealtarekelmoussa, Tristan, Bray, and Tay,” Heather captioned the video.
Additionally, she shared a clip of herself presenting a special Valentine’s gift, a new picture book, to Tristan.
Heather has yet to respond to the critiques on her latest Instagram post, but she consistently shares updates on all three children and their blended family on social media. Even before tying the knot with Tarek in October 2021, she referred to herself as Taylor and Brayden’s “bonus mom.”
In a tribute to the kids on Mother’s Day last year she wrote,
“I have so much love for all three El Moussa babies that my heart can barely take it. Being a mother has completed me in ways I never knew was possible and changed my life for the better.”