Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello shocked fans when they announced their divorce in July 2023 after nearly eight years of marriage. For months, speculation swirled about the reason behind their split. Now, Sofía has spoken openly about what led to their decision to part ways.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, the Griselda star revealed that their differing views on having children played a major role in their breakup.
“My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn’t want to be an old mom,” she explained. “I feel it’s not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore.”
At 52, Sofía is already a mother to her 32-year-old son, Manolo, whom she had at 19 with her first husband, Joe Gonzalez. She made it clear that she no longer wants to raise another child.
“I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother,” she said. “So, if love comes along, he has to come with [his own] children.”
She also acknowledged that she is nearing menopause and embracing this new stage of life. Instead of starting over with a new baby, she looks forward to being a grandmother someday.
“When my son becomes a dad, let him bring the baby to me for a while, and then I’ll give it back to him and go on with my life; that’s what I have to do.”
Joe Manganiello’s Perspective on the Divorce
While Sofía has been open about why she believes the marriage ended, Joe Manganiello has a different take.
In an interview with Men’s Journal in July 2024, the True Blood actor denied that their split was solely about children.
“That’s simply not true,” he said.
Joe explained that they had talked about starting a family early in their relationship.
“We had a huge conversation about kids during our first month of dating,” he revealed. “I said, ‘If you’re done with kids, then I understand. Just tell me, and I’ll know what this is, and that’s OK.’ But that wasn’t the case with her.”
He also shared that they did try to have a family during the first year and a half of their marriage. However, things didn’t work out.
Despite what some reports have claimed, Joe insisted that their divorce wasn’t about him pressuring Sofía into having children.
“To be painted as if I had some sort of midlife crisis, and after nine years, turned to somebody and gave them an ultimatum of, ‘Do this potentially unhealthy thing to your body, or else I’m gone?’ That’s never who I was.”
Ultimately, Joe believes their relationship ended because they grew apart over time.
“Sometimes that happens,” he said simply.
Sofía Responds to Joe’s Comments
After Joe’s interview, Sofía was asked about his version of events in a Variety interview published in August 2024. However, she didn’t seem too concerned about what was being said.
“At the end of the day, you never even know if that’s what he said for real,” she said, pointing out how quotes can sometimes be misinterpreted in the media. “I’ve read a lot of things that I’ve said that I’m like, ‘Huh?’ What am I gonna do, call him? I don’t know if he even said that.”
Instead of dwelling on the past, Sofía is focused on moving forward.
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello (Getty Images)Life After Divorce: Sofía Vergara’s New Chapter
Since her split from Joe, Sofía has been enjoying her single life and focusing on her happiness.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she expressed her love for New York City—not just for the energy and excitement but also for the dating opportunities.
“I love it. Who doesn’t love New York City? The people, it’s the energy,” she said. “I think that you have more options with men, also.”
While she still lives in Los Angeles most of the time, she’s considering spending more time in New York because of the variety of people there.
“I’m single now, so in New York, there are more people. There’s not only actors or writers or directors; I think there’s a bigger [pool]. I’m going to spend more time in New York.”
She has also been linked to a new romantic interest. In April 2024, she posted a photo on her Instagram Story with orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman, referring to him as “a handsome doctor.”
It seems that Sofía is embracing her new chapter with confidence and excitement.
Joe Manganiello Has Moved On Too
Joe hasn’t been dwelling on the past either. A few months after filing for divorce, he started dating actress Caitlin O’Connor.
While he hasn’t shared many details about his new relationship, he appears to be in a good place.
Both Joe and Sofía seem to have accepted that their marriage ended for the best, and they are now focused on their futures.
A Look Back at Sofía and Joe’s Love Story
July 2014: A Fast-Paced Romance
Sofía and Joe first met at a White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2014, but she was engaged to another man at the time. When she became single, Joe wasted no time and asked her out. They quickly became inseparable.
December 2014: Engagement
Just six months into their relationship, Joe proposed to Sofía while they were on vacation in Hawaii.
November 2015: Wedding in Florida
The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by family and celebrity friends.
2020–2023: Trouble in Paradise?
While the couple appeared happy in public, sources later revealed that their differences—especially around having children—became more apparent over time.
July 2023: Divorce Announcement
After nearly eight years of marriage, they released a joint statement confirming their split.
“As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect for our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives,” they wrote.
July 2024: Different Views on the Split
A year later, Sofía and Joe shared different perspectives on why their marriage ended, with Sofía citing their disagreement over children and Joe saying they simply grew apart.
Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello may have ended their marriage, but they have remained respectful of each other in public.
Sofía has been clear about why she didn’t want to have more children, while Joe has insisted that their breakup wasn’t just about that. Despite the differences in their stories, both have moved on and seem happy in their new lives.
While their love story may be over, their journey shows that sometimes relationships end simply because people grow in different directions—and that’s okay.