Joe Manganiello has made allegations about his marriage to Sofia Vergara, claiming his former wife refused to hug him while he was battling a serious illness.
In his forthcoming memoir, Bloodlines, the actor, 49, alleges that Sofia also ridiculed him over his attachment to his Chihuahua, Bubbles.
He writes that their marriage had "become devoid of any emotionality whatsoever" during his health struggles. The allegations are Joe's account of their relationship.
© GettyWhat Joe claims about their marriage
According to the memoir, Joe alleges that Sofia declined to embrace him even when he pleaded with her.
He also described the importance of Bubbles, whom he adopted in 2019 during a particularly difficult period in his life. "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 said.
Sofia's representatives had not commented on the allegations when the initial reports were published.
© Getty ImagesThe former couple married in Palm Beach, Florida, in November 2015. They announced their separation in July 2023 after more than seven years of marriage, with their divorce finalised in 2024.
His private health battle
Joe's memoir also documents a medical ordeal that largely unfolded away from public view. According to the book's publisher, Simon & Schuster, he experienced a series of autoimmune-related illnesses affecting several parts of his body, including his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs and digestive system.
The publisher describes seven years of chronic pain and medical crises, during which doctors struggled to establish a clear explanation for his condition.
© GettyIn an excerpt from the memoir, Joe recounts undergoing emergency surgery in 2016 that involved removing part of his intestines and left him reliant on an ostomy bag.
He also describes losing 60lb over the course of his illness and undergoing repeated investigations as he searched for answers.
What he previously shared with fans
Joe first spoke publicly about the extent of his illness in an Instagram video in June, following the announcement of his memoir.
He explained that only a small group of family members and friends had known what he was experiencing. "I spent months and months heavily medicated while dealing with excruciating bouts of chronic pain," he said in the video.
Joe also described periods when he was too weak to stand or walk, and said completing the book had taken three years.
His message included words of encouragement for others living through difficult health experiences. "If you're out there and you're suffering, then there's hope, and hopefully you'll get something out of it," he said.
Their differing accounts of the split
Joe's latest account also revisits the question of whether having children contributed to the end of his marriage.
Sofia previously attributed their separation to differing wishes about parenthood, explaining that she did not want to become a mother again.
Joe now says his illness had led him to abandon his own plans for fatherhood. His account therefore differs from the explanation Sofia previously gave publicly.
© InstagramA new chapter
Joe is now engaged to actress Caitlin O'Connor, having proposed in 2025. He has also reported that he is currently symptom-free and no longer taking medication for the illness.
Bloodlines, published on October 13, explores his health experiences alongside his family history and Armenian ancestry. The book follows his search for answers through medical treatment, personal reflection and an investigation into the lives of previous generations of his family.
