Heather Rae El Moussa Reflects on Departing ‘Selling Sunset’ Amid Stressful Filming

Heather Rae El Moussa (née Young) considers it a blessing that she was not asked to return to Selling Sunset after being on the show for almost seven seasons. According to her, the show became very toxic over time.

At the beginning, it was all fun and there wasn't much drama. They were all friends and any drama that did occur was simple. However, as time went on, things started to escalate. More girls were added to the mix and the drama became out of control.

Heather mentioned that she would often return home feeling overwhelmed after filming Selling Sunset, as there was no fixed schedule. She expressed how the uncertainty of when she would be filming made it challenging to balance her real estate job and other responsibilities.

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Heather had a demanding filming schedule that lasted from 12 to 14 hours on certain days.

She described the experience as tough, saying, "It was pretty brutal. They just want more and more and more and you saw me on the show." Despite the challenges, Heather managed to stay level-headed throughout most of the time. She maintained friendly relationships with everyone and tried to keep things relaxed in her life.

Heather expressed, "It's a toxic environment. You're surrounded by women who all want to be the top star on the show and are willing to do anything to get there."

Heather was part of the original cast of Selling Sunset when the show premiered on Netflix in March 2019. Viewers followed her significant life events and real estate deals with the Oppenheim Group on the show.

Heather Rae El Moussa Calls Selling Sunset a Very Toxic Environment 2

Mary Fitzgerald, Nicole Young, Davina Potratz, Bre Tiesi, Heather Rae, Chelsea Lazkani, and Chrishell Stause. Courtesy of Netflix

Heather also appeared on the HGTV show The Flipping El Moussas with her husband Tarek El Moussa while being on Selling Sunset. The couple tied the knot in November 2021 and had their son, Tristan, in January 2023. (Tarek has two kids, Taylor, 13, and Brayden, 8, with his ex-wife Christina Hall.)

When Heather took a break from Selling Sunset for maternity leave, she mentioned that she wasn't invited back to the Netflix series. The show currently features Mary Fitzgerald, Chrishell Stause, Amanza Smith, Emma Hernan, Chelsea Lazkani, Nicole Young, and Bre Tiesi.

Heather explained that she was grateful she wasn't asked to return because she is enjoying filming her show with Tarek. They are both co-producers on the show, allowing them to choose their own hours.

Heather confirmed her departure from Selling Sunset ahead of the season 7 premiere in November 2023.

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Davina Portratz, Heather Rae Young, Christine Quinn, Maya Vander, Mary Fitzgerald, and Chrishell Stause. Courtesy of Netflix

"It's bittersweet that I'm no longer part of SS," she wrote in a post on Instagram. "But I wouldn't change the experiences I had, whether good or bad."

Heather's last appearance was in the Selling Sunset season 7 premiere. She was seen showing TikTok star Josh Richards a house before passing him on to colleague Bre from the Oppenheim Group. After that, she went on maternity leave.

Despite leaving the show suddenly, Heather shared on Monday's podcast that she found something valuable from her time on Selling Sunset.

She mentioned, "Some of the girls from the show are still my close friends. That was a really positive outcome for me."

Editor's P/S:

Heather Rae El Moussa's candid reflections on her time on "Selling Sunset" shed light on the often-hidden challenges behind the glamour of reality television. The show's initial camaraderie and lightheartedness gradually transformed into an environment marred by intense competition and fabricated drama. The relentless filming schedule and lack of structure took a toll on Heather's mental and emotional well-being, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and drained.

Heather's decision not to return to the show after her maternity leave reflects her desire for a healthier and more balanced life. Her departure highlights the importance of prioritizing personal well-being over the pursuit of fame or attention. While she acknowledges the positive connections she made with some of her co-stars, Heather's experience serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of reality television and the need for producers to foster a more supportive and responsible environment for their participants.