Joe Manganiello is ready to share his side of the story. In his upcoming memoir Bloodlines, set for release on October 13, the 49-year-old Magic Mike and True Blood actor opens up about a severe medical crisis that coincided with his marriage to Sofía Vergara.
The former couple announced their separation in July 2023 after seven years of marriage. In early 2024, Vergara publicly stated that their relationship ended because Manganiello wanted to have children while she did not—a narrative Manganiello publicly disputed later that summer.
In Bloodlines, Manganiello reveals how his physical health declined dramatically following their wedding, suffering from severe abdominal pain that led to multiple surgeries, colonoscopies, partial bowel removal, and the temporary installation of an ostomy bag.
“It happened to me, and it’s the truth, and I have all the scars to prove it. [Autoimmune] conditions are a dumping ground for things [doctors] don’t understand. They start running you through this gauntlet of drugs,” Manganiello shared with People. He explained that doctors prescribed aggressive medications for Crohn’s disease and colitis, eventually leaving him dependent on heavy pain management regimens, including hydrocodone, fentanyl patches, and medicinal cannabis.
According to excerpts, Manganiello details how the physical strain affected his household, alleging that his marriage “became devoid of any emotionality whatsoever.”
In the book, Manganiello claims that Vergara “refused to hug him even when he begged” during his recovery. He also alleges that “she ridiculed him for his 5-lb. chihuahua Bubbles,” a pet he adopted in 2019 while struggling with dark thoughts during his illness. “I had to give my gun away because I kept thinking about it, and then the dog came. I went from being the patient to the caretaker,” he shared.
Directly addressing the public dialogue regarding family planning, Manganiello clarified that his health crisis shifted his immediate focus away from having children.
“There were things said and printed about me that were false,” Manganiello noted regarding media reports about their split.
Following years of medical treatments, Manganiello eventually found path to recovery through holistic practices and working with a shaman, ultimately weaning off all prescribed medications. Today, the actor confirms he is entirely symptom-free.
