When Howie Mandel gave Reba McEntire a hug on The Voice stage in September 2023, it left everyone speechless. Why? Because Howie is famous for saying “don’t touch me” due to his severe fear of germs. But in that moment, the comedian couldn’t help himself—he hugged the country music legend tightly, something no one ever expected him to do.
Howie Mandel has always been open about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and germaphobia. While he often looks upbeat and cheerful on TV, behind the scenes he’s very different. He’s shared that deep down, he’s a “scared” man who sometimes wishes he could just stay curled up “in the fetal position” to escape the overwhelming anxiety.
Recently, Mandel revealed even more about how his OCD affects his life, calling it “absolute hell.”
The Pandemic Made Everything Worse
For many, the pandemic triggered fears about germs, but for Howie, it took his germaphobia to the next level. He’s lived with extreme anxiety and OCD since he was a kid, but the pandemic made things unbearable.
“It is impossible for me to live a day in my life without thinking that we might not survive,” Howie said in an interview with People magazine. He explained that before the pandemic, he found comfort in knowing the people around him were safe. But during the pandemic, the whole world felt unsafe, and it was “just the worst.”
OCD, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is a mental health disorder that causes people to have obsessive thoughts and engage in compulsive behaviors to deal with them. These actions often interfere with daily life and cause a lot of distress.
“I feel like I’m living in a bad dream,” Mandel shared. “I try to ground myself by focusing on my family,” he said, referring to his wife Terry and their three kids, Riley, Jackie, and Alex. “I love what I do,” he continued, but sometimes he falls into such deep depression that it’s hard to get out of it.
Laughter Is His Best Medicine
Mandel’s career took off in 1982 with the TV show St. Elsewhere, but it’s comedy that’s kept him going. “I use humor as a coping mechanism,” he said. “If I’m not laughing, I’m crying. I haven’t been transparent enough about how dark and terrible things truly get.”
On stage, Mandel feels the most at peace. “I’m most at ease onstage,” he shared, adding that humor helps him fight the overwhelming urges that come with OCD. But when he’s not working, things get tough. “When I withdraw inside myself and have nothing to do, it’s not good,” he admitted.
Despite his struggles, Howie stays busy. He judges America’s Got Talent (AGT) and hosts several shows, always bringing his unique sense of humor to everything he does.
“Very Heavily Medicated”
Howie opened up about his mental health on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2022, revealing just how much he struggles behind the scenes. “I have OCD and I’m neurotic,” he said. “People think that because I’m out there, I’m having fun and enjoying myself. But the truth is, I’m terrified. I like to go home and just live in the fetal position.”
Clarkson, surprised, responded, “It’s so funny to me because every time I’m around you—even outside of work—you’re the opposite of what I’d imagine.”
Mandel laughed and said, “I know, I’m such a joy, I’m a light, I’m energy, and I’m stunning.” But he quickly added, “To be honest, I take a lot of medication.”
That Hug with Reba McEntire
Maybe it was the medication that gave Mandel the courage to do something totally out of character when he saw Reba McEntire on The Voice. As a panelist on the show, he jumped up from his seat and called out to her excitedly. “We’re shooting the AGT finale right next door!” he exclaimed. “Could you sign my shirt?”
After Reba signed his shirt, which said “I [heart] Reba,” Howie did something no one expected—he hugged her tightly, even though he usually avoids all physical contact. The moment was so surprising that The Voice host Carson Daly remarked, “You don’t see that every day.”
Mandel later reflected on how unusual his actions were. “People notice discrepancies, especially in the media,” he said. “They’ll say, ‘He shook someone’s hand,’ or ‘Oh, he hugged someone.’ I can do that, but afterward, I’ll feel like I didn’t clean my hand properly. Then I’ll spend hours going back and forth, washing it over and over.”
Even though Howie can see the humor in his behavior, he’s determined to keep the conversation about mental health going. “I understand the funny in that,” he said, but it doesn’t take away from how awful the experience is. “I don’t want to excuse my mental health, I just want to keep talking about it.”
Howie himself caught Covid-19 in 2022, but thankfully, his symptoms were mild because he was fully vaccinated. This was a reminder to him—and to others—that no matter how scared you are of getting sick, fear alone won’t protect you.
