Community Corner
Christina Hall Fires Back Against Ex-Husband In OC Custody Battle
The HGTV host accused her ex-husband, Ant Anstead, of attempting to smear her in an attempt to modify a custody agreement.
ORANGE, CA — HGTV home renovation show host Christina Hall fired back at her ex-husband in their custody battle over their 2-year-old son, according to court papers obtained Monday.
The "Christina on the Coast" host filed a declaration in Orange County Superior Court last week alleging that her ex-husband, Ant Anstead, best known for hosting the British automotive series "For the Love of Cars," was attempting to "smear her" in a legal request to have their custody deal modified.
The two, who were divorced last year, were battling over custody of their son, Hudson London Anstead.
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Hall said in her response to Anstead's request to modify the custody arrangement that their son "has actually enjoyed a substantially equal timeshare with each parent."
Hall denied Anstead's allegation that she enrolled their son in a summer pre-school program, including a text message exchange about it in the court papers.
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Hall accused her ex-husband of taking their child to New Orleans and Maui on separate occasions without notifying her and enrolled their son in a school program in Laguna Beach without her consent.
"Mr. Anstead is simply trying to smear my good name and tarnish my image," she wrote.
"He asserts illegal drug use on July 8, 2021, but omits the fact that he left for the U.K. shortly thereafter, leaving Hudson in my care for 10 days," Hall said.
"This is the same time he now alleges I left Hudson with third parties instead of parenting him myself. The true fact is that Ant was to return July 31, 2021, and he got stuck. Ant asked me to get him a birth certificate so he could return. He knew I was leaving town July 31, 2021."
Hall said she thought his return was "imminent," so she asked him "if he wanted my nanny to keep Hudson," she said. "He said, no, and asked that I allow his nanny and girlfriend to watch Hudson. I had no idea it would take him several days to return. He has never even brought this up as an issue until his filing."
Hall said because the two have children from previous marriages they have an arrangement so their son can spend time with their siblings.
The two are scheduled for a court hearing on the issue June 28.
City News Service
