Joe Manganiello wonders how his mysterious illness may have changed marriage to Sofia Vergara
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Joe Manganiello is looking back at a difficult period in his life and wondering whether things might have turned out differently in his marriage to Sofia Vergara.
The actor has opened up about his health struggles and the emotional toll they took on him while he was still with the 'Modern Family' star. His latest comments offer a more personal look at their relationship, the challenges he faced behind the scenes, and the feelings he has carried since their split.
Joe Manganiello says his illness may have changed his marriage to Sofia Vergara
The 49-year-old actor shared his thoughts during an appearance on SiriusXM’s 'Radio Andy' on Wednesday, October 14, where host Andy Cohen asked whether things could have worked out differently if he had been healthier.
“Possibly, maybe,” Manganiello replied. When Cohen asked whether he regretted not being healthier during their marriage, the actor answered, “Yeah, of course.”
Manganiello also admitted that looking back at old pictures from the early days of their relationship can be painful. “It's heartbreaking when you look at these two people with life ahead of them, but for us, we didn't know what was ahead,” he said. “I felt guilty for a long time.”
Manganiello explained that his health problems left him feeling like a burden to the people around him. “I felt guilty. I felt like a burden. I knew that everyone was sick of me, sick of watching me go through this,” he shared. He also revealed that he and Vergara have not spoken since their divorce was finalized in February 2024.
In his memoir, 'Bloodlines', released on Tuesday, Manganiello opened up about dealing with serious health issues for seven years. He described going through difficult medical procedures and having an organ removed as part of his health journey.
The 'Magic Mike' actor also shared how the experience affected his marriage. He alleged that Vergara sometimes ridiculed him during his health struggles and did not hug him when he asked for affection. These claims reflect Manganiello's perspective on their relationship.
Vergara, meanwhile, previously said their different views on having children contributed to their separation. Manganiello has pushed back against that explanation, suggesting that the reason behind their breakup was more complicated than that.
Joe Manganiello stresses memoir is about his suffering, not attacking Sofia Vergara
Manganiello has also addressed the reactions to his memoir and the attention surrounding his account of his marriage. During an appearance on 'CBS Mornings', he pushed back against the idea that the book was written to target Vergara.
“Well, I think anybody who said that should read the book first and understand what the book is actually about, because it's not about that,” he said. “It's about the suffering I went through.”
The 'Nonnas' actor is now engaged to Caitlin O’Connor, whom he began dating after separating from Vergara.
