Joe Manganiello Details Health Struggles and Marriage to Sofia Vergara in New Memoir

Joe Manganiello is opening up about his health struggles and his former marriage to Sofia Vergara in his upcoming memoir, Bloodlines, which is scheduled to be released on October 13.

Manganiello and Vergara announced their separation in July 2023 after seven years of marriage. Their split later became the subject of public discussion, including differing accounts of the role that children and Manganiello’s health played in the end of their relationship.

In his memoir, Manganiello provides his perspective on the marriage while detailing a serious period of illness that he says began after the couple’s wedding.

Manganiello Details Years-Long Health Battle

In Bloodlines, Manganiello describes experiencing severe abdominal pain that led to surgeries, colonoscopies and the removal of part of his intestines. He also underwent treatment for conditions including Crohn’s disease and colitis.

The actor said doctors prescribed multiple medications during his treatment, including hydrocodone and fentanyl, while he also used marijuana.

Manganiello described the experience as a difficult and uncertain period in which doctors were attempting to determine the underlying cause of his symptoms.

“It happened to me, and it’s the truth, and I have all the scars to prove it,” Manganiello said, according to an interview cited by People.

His Account of the Marriage

Manganiello also writes about how his health problems affected his relationship with Vergara.

According to excerpts from the memoir, he describes the marriage as having become “devoid of any emotionality whatsoever.”

He alleges that Vergara refused to hug him during periods when he was struggling with his illness and that she ridiculed his five-pound Chihuahua, Bubbles.

Manganiello adopted Bubbles in 2019 during a particularly difficult period in his life. He has said the dog became an important source of purpose and responsibility while he was dealing with serious personal challenges.

He recalled that caring for the dog shifted his focus from being a patient to becoming a caretaker.

Differing Accounts of Why the Marriage Ended

The couple’s decision to separate has previously been linked publicly to differing views about having children.

Vergara said in a January 2024 interview that the marriage ended because Manganiello wanted children while she did not want to have more children.

Manganiello later disputed that explanation publicly in July 2024.

In Bloodlines, he offers additional context, saying that his own desire to have a child changed during his illness.

According to his account, he ultimately gave up on wanting a child because of the severity of his health problems.

Memoir Offers Manganiello’s Perspective

Bloodlines is expected to provide a more detailed account of Manganiello’s personal experiences, including his health battle, his marriage and the circumstances surrounding their eventual separation.

While the memoir presents Manganiello’s perspective, Vergara has previously offered her own explanation for the end of the relationship. The two have since moved forward separately following their 2023 split.

The book will be released on October 13, giving readers a fuller look at the experiences Manganiello says shaped his health, personal life and marriage.