Joe Manganiello has so far refrained from commenting on his divorce from Sofia Vergara and her accusations. But now, for the first time, he explains how the breakup happened and what the issue of “children” had to do with it.
Joe Manganiello, 47, has been silent for a long time. After the separation and subsequent divorce from Sofia Vergara, 52, he initially endured her accusations without responding. Although this wasn’t always easy for him, as he reveals in a recent interview.
Joe Manganiello Speaks for the First Time About Accusations from Ex Sofia Vergara
Professionally, things are going great for the 47-year-old. After his acting successes, he is now gaining attention in America with a new game show, already launching into its second season. But privately, Manganiello suffered a major setback last year. Following the announcement of his separation from the “Modern Family” star almost exactly a year ago, the divorce filing soon followed. This was something the “Magic Mike” actor had not commented on until now.
In a conversation with “Men’s Journal,” he speaks for the first time about the accusation from his ex-wife Sofia Vergara. In January 2024, she told the Spanish “El País” about the reasons for their split: “My marriage fell apart because my husband was younger. He wanted children, and I didn’t want to be an old mother.” Manganiello believes this is a distorted portrayal.
“I was never like that”
“To be portrayed as someone going through a midlife crisis who, after nine years, turns around and gives an ultimatum like ‘Do this possibly unhealthy thing with your body, or I’m gone’? I was never like that,” Joe Manganiello insists. Since then, much has been written in the press about his desire for a family. But “that’s simply not true.” From his perspective, something else led to the breakup. But before addressing that, he wants to revisit the topic of family planning.
“We tried for the first year and a half to start a family. And right at the beginning, in the first month we met, we had a big conversation about it. I said, ‘If you’re done with the idea of having kids, then I understand. Just tell me, and I’ll know, and that’s okay.’ But that wasn’t the case with her,” he explains.
“I swore to her that I wouldn’t leave if it didn’t work out. And I didn’t.”
The relationship still fell apart, according to Joe Manganiello, due to a very ordinary development. More than the big issue of children, it was simply “two people growing apart – and that happens sometimes.” Having character is important to him, and thus the distortions of facts in the public eye hurt him. This is likely one reason why he now wanted to tell his side of the story once and for all.
