Joe Manganiello denied Sofia Vergara’s claim that his desire to have children played a role in their decision to end their seven-year marriage.
A year after the couple announced their separation in a joint statement, the 47-year-old True Blood star broke his silence on what led to their split in a candid new interview with Men’s diary.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the press about my desire to have a family. That’s just not true,” he told the publication. “We did try to have a family for the first year and a half.”
The Magic Mike actor also revealed that they had “a huge conversation, right from the beginning, within the first month” of dating, in which he claims to have told her, “When you’re done with kids, I understand. Just tell me, and I know what this is, and that’s okay. But that wasn’t the case with her.”
“I swore to her that if it didn’t work out, I would never leave. And I didn’t,” Manganiello insisted.
Joe Manganiello denied Sofia Vergara’s claim that his desire to have children was a factor in their decision to end their seven-year marriage; pictured in 2020
While he hopes to start a family one day, the artist stressed that disagreements over children “weren’t necessarily the reason everything ended.”
“That’s because two people have grown apart, and that happens sometimes,” he explained.
Manganiello then expressed her frustration over Vergara’s earlier comments that their “marriage ended” because her husband “was younger” and “wanted kids.”
“That I’m being portrayed as having some sort of midlife crisis and going to someone after nine years and giving them an ultimatum: ‘Do this potentially unhealthy thing with your body or I’m gone?’ That’s never been me,” Pittsburgh said.
In January 2024, Vergara told the Spanish publication The country that she and Manganiello ended their relationship because he wanted children and she didn’t.
“I didn’t want to be an old mother,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but it’s not for me anymore.”
She continued, “I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother. So when love comes, he has to come with me. [his own] children.’
A year after the couple announced their split in a joint statement, the 47-year-old True Blood star broke his silence on what led to their divorce during a new interview with Men’s Journal; seen in 2019
“There’s been a lot of press about me wanting a family. That’s just not true,” he told the publication. “We did try to have a family for the first year and a half.” (Seen in 2019)
She and Joe announced their separation last July.
“We have made the difficult decision to separate. As two people who love and care for each other deeply, we politely ask that our privacy be respected at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives,” they said in a statement, obtained by Page Six.
Just two days after the True Blood actor announced their split, he filed for divorce, setting the date as July 2.
‘Irreconcilable differences’ were cited as the reason for the end of their marriage.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the press about my desire to have a family. That’s just not true,” he told the publication. “We spent the first year and a half trying to start a family.”
After their divorce, Sofia has been busy with her new love Justin Saliman, an orthopedic surgeon.
In late October, she and the doctor were first spotted together on a night out in West Hollywood.
Joe has since moved on with Caitlin O’Connor, who turns 35 on August 3.
Last weekend, the couple celebrated their anniversary at Toca Madera in West Hollywood.
Joe, in turn, has moved on with Caitlin O’Connor, who turns 35 on August 3 (pictured during an early birthday party at Toca Madera in West Hollywood)
“Like most Leos, I celebrate my birthday two weeks early and the next four weeks,” she joked on her Instagram Story
She shared a sweet snap of them cuddling up to each other while his beloved dog, Bubbles, sat on his lap.
A source said People that the couple had a “wonderful time” and that Manganiello “treats her like a queen.”
“They enjoy spending as much time together as possible,” the insider added.
The happy couple recently took a “very romantic trip” to Paris, where they stayed in a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
O’Connor also stayed by his side when he filmed Deal or No Deal Island in Panama and when he traveled to North Carolina in May for One Tree Hill.