Who is Peter Cornell? Meet the man in the middle of the 'Selling Sunset' relationship drama

It's been revealed: Peter Cornell is responsible for that Christine-Emma tension on 'Selling Sunset'

Pro basketball players Peter Cornell and Kris Humphries attend the 28th Anniversary Sports Spectacular Gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 19, 2013 in Century City, California.
(Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Sports Spectacular)

Well, well. What have we here? Peter Cornell is causing a stir in the reality TV world, but who is he, exactly?

The ex-NBA player and sporadic actor is arguably best known as a messy dater. As the man responsible for the Christine and Emma Selling Sunset clash, he has proven that his moves off-court are not quite as smooth. After a reckless slip-up, the now 45-year-old managed to expose Christine and Emma, his two girlfriends, to one another. It goes without saying, but neither woman was thrilled with the discovery. 

The fourth season of the reality show has just landed on Netflix, and fans are already buzzing about this problematic love debacle between Oppenheim Group peers. Newcomer Emma Hernan and her costar Christine Quinn manage to bring up their mutual ex, without actually mentioning his name, but it's clear the drama is just as grand as those marvelous LA listings.



What happened between Peter Cornell, Christine Quinn and Emma Hernan?

Before we tell you more about the serial dater, allow us to fill you in on the predicament. Cornell was caught holding hands with Emma Hernan in 2018...by his other girlfriend, Christine Quinn. Quinn made this discovery while in a gym parking lot and stopped Hernan from leaving. 

"Let's just say you guys will be having some popcorn with that interaction," Hernan confided to Cosmopolitan

Yikes! Did we mention Hernan and Cornell were previously engaged, as were Quinn and Cornell?! Oh, he also managed to date Heather from Oppenheim Group as well. Clearly, Emma's empanadas aren't the only storyline that have caused a buzz this season!

Ultimately, Cornell is also the reason behind the friendship breakup between Quinn and Mary Fitzgerald, who ended up befriending Hernan. 

Who is Peter Cornell?

The realtor also served as the director of the sports and entertainment division of The Oppenheim Group. He got his start in basketball and played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, though he called it quits with the sport in 2009, according to US Weekly's big reveal. You'll catch him in basketball-focused films such as Like Mike and Space Jam: A New Legacy. 

Our super sleuthing skills have concluded that the former athlete is not on Instagram, thus giving us a sneak peek into his current love life, but Hernan has confirmed that she is currently single. Christine Quinn, pregnant with her first child at the beginning of 2021, is now mom to a six-month-old. (Yes, Christine Quinn is still married for those who were wondering.)

Considering all that has happened since the show's season 4 return, we can only imagine what awaits us in the future. Plus, there's a Selling Sunset spinoff, Selling Tampa hitting screens on December 15, and Selling the OC, which will appear on Netflix in 2022. 

This is just a guess, but we're probably going to have quite a few TV binges in the near future!

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.