Joe Manganiello Claims Sofia Vergara Ridiculed Him During Near-Fatal Health Battle
The actor details alleged mistreatment from his ex-wife in his upcoming memoir, "Bloodlines."
Joe Manganiello claims in his upcoming memoir, "Bloodlines," that his ex-wife Sofía Vergara ridiculed him during a near-fatal autoimmune disease battle. According to excerpts published by People, Manganiello writes that Vergara mocked him for his 5-pound dog, Bubbles, whom he adopted in 2019 while contemplating suicide.
"I had to give my gun away because I kept thinking about it, and then the dog came," Manganiello stated. "I went from being the patient to the caretaker."
Manganiello also alleges that Vergara refused to hug him, even when he pleaded, during his severe illness. He further disputes Vergara's claim that their divorce was caused by his desire to have children while she did not want to be an "old mom." Manganiello explained that after failed IVF attempts, they considered egg donors. However, due to his health issues, he did not want to leave Vergara with a child who was not biologically hers if he were to die.
"There were things said and printed about me that were false," Manganiello said, adding that writing his book was his way of correcting the record. Page Six has reached out to Vergara's representative for comment.
In January, Vergara had stated that their differing views on expanding their family led to their split. "My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids, and I didn’t want to be an old mom," she had said. "I feel it’s not fair to the baby." Vergara, who shares son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara with her first husband, Joe Gonzalez, also noted that having more children was "not for [her] anymore." Manganiello's health issues began shortly after his and Vergara's 2015 wedding. He experienced severe abdominal pain, rashes, headaches, fatigue, and rectal bleeding, leading to significant weight loss and an emergency surgery in 2016 where part of his intestines were removed, requiring him to use an ostomy bag.
After conventional medicine proved ineffective, Manganiello sought treatment from a Santa Monica shaman who suggested generational trauma was the cause. He is now symptom-free and off medication following a surgery that reconnected his digestive tract. He expressed gratitude for his fiancée, Caitlin O'Connor, and revealed they are considering having children together.
"Bloodlines" is set to be released on October 13.