Joe Manganiello challenges Sofía Vergara’s account of their divorce in new memoir

The actor says emergency surgery and years without a clear diagnosis changed his outlook on parenthood

Joe Manganiello has shared his account of the breakdown of his marriage to Sofía Vergara, saying a prolonged health battle changed his decision about becoming a father.

In his forthcoming memoir, Bloodlines, the actor describes experiencing a mysterious illness for seven years and fearing that it could kill him. His account offers a different perspective on the couple’s separation, which they announced in July 2023 before their divorce was finalised in 2024.

Vergara previously cited their differing views on having children as a factor in the relationship ending. Manganiello, however, says the circumstances were more complicated, with his health concerns playing a significant role in his thinking about parenthood.

According to his memoir, the couple explored fertility options, including IVF attempts and the possibility of using an egg donor. Manganiello says he eventually became reluctant to pursue having a child because he feared he might not survive his illness.

The actor explains that he worried about leaving Vergara to raise a child alone, particularly if the child was not biologically hers. His account presents the decision as one shaped by uncertainty about his future rather than simply a disagreement about whether to have children.

Manganiello says his health problems began not long after the couple married in 2015. He describes symptoms including severe abdominal pain, rashes, headaches and extreme fatigue.

In 2016, he underwent emergency surgery that resulted in part of his intestine being removed. However, his medical problems reportedly continued for years without a clear diagnosis, leaving him concerned about what might happen next.

The memoir recounts how living with prolonged illness affected his outlook and placed emotional pressure on the marriage. Manganiello’s comments do not erase Vergara’s previously stated perspective, but provide his explanation of how the couple’s plans for a family changed.

The former couple married in November 2015 and confirmed their separation eight years later. Their divorce was finalised in 2024.

Through Bloodlines, Manganiello revisits the personal fears and difficult decisions that shaped this period of his life.