Joe Manganiello shocked Today hosts on Monday morning when he revealed he had obtained a European passport for his beloved pet Bubbles, after his ex-wife Sofia Vergara granted him custody of the dog during their divorce.
Joe, 47, and Sofia, 51, confirmed they had split in July 2023 and a month later, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that the Modern Family actress had ‘graciously’ agreed to let her ex-husband Bubbles go full-time – despite being the one who adopted the dog for herself.
The former couple’s divorce was finalized earlier this month, and Joe confirmed during an interview on the NBC morning show that he now has Italian citizenship and can take Bubbles “anywhere” because she has her own passport.
Referring to the new TV show he’s hosting, Deal or No Deal Island, Joe opened up about filming on a banker’s private island and coming face to face with snakes: ‘I have a little five-pound chihuahua called Bubbles, who comes went everywhere and came to the island, and at one point there was a giant snake somewhere near my tent.’
Joe Manganiello has revealed that his beloved dog Bubbles now has a European passport
The 47-year-old actor appeared on Today 3rd Hour on Monday morning
Joe’s ex-wife Sofia Vergara gave him full custody of Bubbles during their divorce, which was finalized earlier this month
When hosts Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones asked how Bubbles reacted to the snake, Joe replied, “Luckily she was with her babysitter, she wasn’t in the tent at the time!”
Joe continued, “She goes everywhere (with me). So last year I became an Italian citizen and Bubbles got a European Union passport! So I take Bubbles everywhere.”
Luckily for Joe, Griselda star Sofia didn’t try to keep custody of Bubbles, as a source told DailyMail.com in August 2023: ‘Not in a million years would Joe say goodbye to his dog Bubbles and Sofia is well aware of this consciously. . Joe said Sofia was kind because he kept Bubbles after their breakup.
“Neither of them are bitter or out for revenge, and Sofia loves Bubbles and wants her to be happy, which is exactly why she’s giving Joe custody,” the insider added at the time.
“He said Sofia has the biggest heart and would never do anything to intentionally hurt him or Bubbles.”
During his interview on Today, a few photos of Joe cuddling Bubbles flashed on the screen as Joe explained to the hosts how he managed to become an Italian citizen.
“I’m a lot of genealogy, but I’m mostly Italian and Sicilian and so we reversed that, and I was eligible for Italian citizenship and I always wanted to live there and I go there pretty much every year, so I thought, ‘OK , let’s apply,’ and I get it,” Joe revealed.
In addition to regularly traveling to Europe, Joe recently took a big step in his relationship with Caitlin O’Connor when he decided to go Instagram official with his girlfriend and has also reportedly moved in with the 34-year-old actress .
The True Blood actor confirmed that his Chihuahua-pom mix comes with him “everywhere.”
Joe and Bubbles pictured with Sofia in happier times before they split in July 2023
Joe took Bubbles with him when he traveled to a private island to host the TV series Deal or No Deal Island
The actor has reportedly moved in with his new girlfriend Caitlin O’Connor, pictured here together in January 2024
According to TMZthe couple is deeply in love and enjoying living under the same roof, after just three months of dating.
The Magic Mike Last Dance actor and his new love are said to have bonded while growing up in Pittsburgh and were even spotted vacationing in Italy.
In January, Joe’s ex Sofia revealed during an interview with Spanish publication El País that they decided to split because he wanted them to have children – and she didn’t.
‘My marriage failed because my husband was younger; he wanted to have children and I didn’t want to be an old mother,” Sofia explained.
The Colombian star, who is already mother to her 32-year-old son Manolo, added: “I don’t think it’s fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore.’