Christina Haack’s New Post With Kylie King Has Fans Asking Where James Bender Is
Where is James Bender?! That’s the question HGTV fans have been asking for months, and the inquiries resurfaced after Christina Haack posted a new Instagram photo with Kylie King.
Haack has been working with King much more these days, while she no longer appears to be teaming up with Bender, her former design partner. He didn’t appear in any episodes of The Flip Off, and was only briefly featured in recent episodes of Christina on the Coast, which were filmed months ago.
Aside from his absence, fans have noticed that Haack is pushing her partnership with Wing more than ever. “Still trying to find the perfect design duo for your project? Consider this your sign to fill out our contact form,” the duo captioned their latest photo. The comments section was filled with messages about Bender.
“I miss James, where is he ?” one person wrote. Someone else said, “Like Christina and Kylie but really enjoyed James and his style and yours together. You made a great duo,” and another person wrote, “What happened to James?”
The conversation also continued over on Reddit when a user admitted, “Is it me or does anyone think Christina designed better before she joined forces with Kylie? Love James’s and her designs. Loved her designs before but not so much now!”
Bender still hasn’t posted on his own Instagram since August 2024 when he promoted the finale of the first half of Christina on the Coast Season 5. Both he and Haack have not addressed the reason for their apparent falling out. Fans have speculated that Bender has maintained a relationship with Haack’s estranged husband, Josh Hall, following their summer 2024 split, but that has not been confirmed.
“I don’t think James is back. I think he’s being phased out,” one person theorized earlier this month. “He was really not in the episode. Something is up.”
Season 5 of Christina on the Coast wrapped on March 13, and Haack recently revealed that she is not currently filming any projects.
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O
Really liked James, hope they bring him back
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R
Christina did well without Kylie. Kylie has a style very different from Christina and that showed in the FlipOff show. Bring James or anyone else back to the show.
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O
I miss James I think they worked great together . Bring him back 😊
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R
I miss seeing James and Christina working together. Hope all is well.
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V
WHOÒO cares?!?!?! I just love Christina, and the show!!! I think she's a fabulous designer, and REALLY wish the old days would continue FOREVER!!!
I loved Christina AND Tarek together, with their kids! THAT was a beautiful family! I understand everybody moves on, people change, and the world continues turning.
The ONLY thing I dislike "now" is Tarek's NEW wife. I absolutely can't stand her. She seems phony, AND a big time user!
I KNOW Tarek & Christina still love each other BIG time! I see it in their eyes...PLEASE stop wasting time, Tarek & Christina...you two ARE "DEFINITELY" meant to be together, FOREVER!!!
LOTS of my friends feel the same as I do. Life IS waaaay too short, Tarek, PLEEEASE realize it "a s.a.p." and get back where YOU belong--with Christina!!!
Christina...you KNOW in your heart, I'm right. You and Tarek ARE meant to live your lives out together!!! We love EVERY show you both have going on...but the best one, will ALWAYS be, the original, "Flip or Flop" with you BOTH.
PLEASE get back together, SOON!!!
❤️ ❤️YOU BOTH!❤️❤️
Vicki
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R
I have secretly said this 😁. I agree totally with you!
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O
You secretly liked what "I" said???
I've loved Christina & Tarek TOGETHER, since Day "1" and, 200% believe their divorce was done in haste w/o clearly thinking of the future. They BELONG TOGETHER, FOREVER!!! I wish they BOTH would realize it, AND "make it happen, the sooner the BETTER!!!
And, HGTV bring back the ORIGINAL "Flip or Flop!!!"
Do you know how much of a money-maker that'd be for the network???! I have zillions of friends who LOVED them together, on the original show!!
❤️LOVE you "borh" Christina & Tarek!❤️
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G
Love Christina have nothing against either of her teammates but actually she’s fine by herself if she needed to use a member of her team id say James
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C
Since James is out and Christina teamed up with her new partners her or their designs look cheap and sloppy. Her creative edge is gone. HGTV should give James his own show he is creative has such great taste in design he was partner Christina should held on to he made her design style look marvelous, now l do not care to watch her poor quality style. Those team members she have working with her now thumbs down.
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O
I don’t think James was ever friends with Josh , Josh is a rude guy and married her for his fame. He may have left because of Josh being so rude and was hard to to his friend with a rude guy. I believe their is still love between the to James and Chris we will stay positive on why he departed the show. I take is she designs better alone
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C
Most men can’t and won’t work in Drama Drama and that’s all that follows Cristina. They need to worry about helping her get herself together not her designs or next next husband. I loved the show first started her and Tark but like he said she Champaign taste and he’s a beer. I feel sorry for Tarks new wife always compared to Christina while she has to work with the aftermath of Christina’s mess after mess. Too much drama more Design
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O
Tarek & Christina belong together! The new latch-on wife wanted notoriety, and to be "known"...MY opinion why she stepped into the drama.
EVERY relationship has ups & downs, and Christina & Tarek's "disagreement" got blown out of proportion, AND led in the wrong direction, w/o THEM sitting down & talking to EACH OTHER from the HEART. They let too many people influence them, at a very weak time, in their relationship.
THEY belong together, forever!❤️❤️❤️
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R
James NEVER added value to Christina nor the show! She NEVER needed him. She can design on her own. She helped him to even being known. I think she's looped in other designers on her show to help and promote them and their design business.
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O
You could tell Christian husband didn’t like James. James is amazing!
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O
Heather just wants to be Christina! Totally agree you could see the connection in the flip off! Heather is hateful and bossy. Tarek won’t say anything to disagree with her. She’s annoying!
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B
I'm SOOOOO HAPPY you agreed with me! Tarek & Christina DEFINITELY belongs together, forever & always!
I feel both of them are TOO PROUD to apologize & tell each other they TRULY love each other.
Yes, Heather DEFINITELY "IS trying" to look like Christina! Look at all her alterations to that face! Heather REALLY wants to have that look of beautiful Christina--wake up Heather...it's ALSO what's on the INSIDE that counts, and I believe you're deficient BIG time, sorry.
You got what you wanted...Tarek. Some day maybe he'll realize it, and go back where he belongs.
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M
Hope he’s well!!! Not sick or something!!!
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O
I love James and hope they continue to work ❤️ together.
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O
It’s not voting against your friend it’s voting for who you want. Friends don’t have to agree on every single thing.
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O
but hasn't anyone figured out that Christian isn't a designer?? To furnish houses she needs real professionals in the design sector, I don't think she attended Interior Design school. And James was really good! And also intelligent if now he has distanced himself from Christina
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R
I believe it was because of Christina's politics. She is a Trumper which goes against everything that James believes in. He wasn'tbeing supported by his so-called friend and that sucks to know that your friends or family voted against you.
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G
I think something deeper is going on with the Josh and James situation (allegedly). I think that James may have defended Josh in the separation and that she (Christina) just cut him off. They had become very close towards the end.
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R
He hated Josh. That is not it. It was politics.
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