Fans were shocked when Sofia Vergara
and Joe Manganiello announced they were splitting — but was their
marriage doomed from the start? Here's how Mangiello's troubling past
may have driven a wedge between the two. It's been a sad summer for love. On July
17, 2023, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello released a statement that said they were
dissolving their seven-year marriage. According to court documents obtained by TMZ,
celeb attorney Laura Wasser filed the papers, which also revealed the existence of a
prenuptial agreement. According to People, children were at the center of the childless
couple's stress. A source told the outlet: "He really wanted to have a baby with her and
she wasn't interested and it caused a rift." A different insider revealed that Vergara and Manganiello were incompatible in
lesser ways as well, telling People, "[They] differ immensely in style and what
they like to do, although during the marriage, each tried to put the other's interests
ahead of their own to make it work." According to the Daily Mail, Joe Manganiello's
dedication to remaining sober may have formed a wedge between him and Sofia Vergara,
who actively indulges in alcohol. "It's a big thing!" A source told the outlet:
"Of course the fact that Sofia is not sober had an impact on their
marriage. He was warned about this when he started dating her and again before marrying
her. He did not think that he was going to change her but he also didn't think about the
implications this could have on their marriage." "Like everyone else's life I've had a lot
of things that haven't gone right for me." An insider also suggested that Vergara could
not have been more supportive of Manganiello's efforts. But ultimately, her encouragement
was undercut by her decision to openly drink around him. As addiction specialist
nurse Katrina Patersen told the Daily Mail, "That sort of stress and pressure will
eventually build up and start affecting other areas of your daily life. [...] If
she is drinking in front of him (which she did and flaunted on her IG) or if she kept
alcohol in the house, that is a problem." Paterson then added: "She was dangling a carrot in front
of him. The only difference is that this carrot can destroy everything that he has
and everything that he loves about his life." In 2013, Manganiello shared
with HuffPost how detrimental drinking had been to his life. He told the outlet: "My life was ruined. I was homeless,
careless and broke with no career, so yes, it was worth it [to get sober]." Due to Sofia Vergara and Joe
Manganiello's demanding lives, it seems the couple may have drifted apart. "We're both always doing
something so we understand it." A source claimed to Entertainment
Tonight that they "have been living separate lives" amid the split.
The same source went on to add: "[Vergara and Manganiello] have been spending time
apart and focusing on themselves, their careers, and their loved ones. Sofia has been
giving her all to her new beauty brand, toty, and is very involved and excited about it." Manganiello has also been busy with his
upcoming projects, including the film "The Kill Room," which he's set to star in alongside
Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Maya Hawke. Sadly, the prenuptial agreement Sofia Vergara
and Joe Manganiello signed before they tied the knot in 2015 is coming in handy. When
the couple was preparing for their big day, the "Modern Family" actor revealed on
"The Howard Stern Show" that there was zero pushback from either party when the topic
of a prenup was broached. Vergara recalled: "[Manganiello] said, 'Do whatever you
want. I'll sign whatever you want.'" While both actors are successful in their
own right, Vergara has that sweet network television residual money from the popular
ABC sitcom, inflating her current net worth to an estimated $180 million. According
to court documents obtained by People, Vergara and Manganiello's personal assets from
before, during, and after their marriage were separated, as in accordance with their prenup.
The divorce filing stated this included income, "miscellaneous jewelry and
other personal effects."
