Sofia Vergara reveals real reason behind split from Joe Manganiello

Sofia Vergara has finally revealed exactly why she and Joe Manganiello decided to call time on their marriage.

Sofía Vergara is confirming that Joe Manganiello’s desire to have children led to their divorce.

“My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids, and I didn’t want to be an old mum,” the actress, 51, recently told El País.

“I feel it’s not fair to the baby.”

The Modern Family star made sure to note that although she “respect[s]” those who wish to welcome children later in life, the path is just “not for [her] anymore.”

“I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother,” she explained of Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, whom she shares with her first husband, Joe Gonzalez, reports Page Six.

“I’m almost in menopause; it’s the natural way of things,” she said, adding, “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.”

The couple announced their shock split last July. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

But make no mistake; Sofía is open to love again — as long as her next romantic partner has kids of his own.

The Emmy Award nominee debuted her relationship with an orthopaedic surgeon named Justin Saliman in October 2023. It’s unclear whether he has children.

Three months prior, Page Six revealed that Sofía and Manganiello, 47, were going their separate ways after seven years of marriage.

“We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives,” the former couple told Page Six in an exclusive statement at the time.

Manganiello was reportedly keen to have kids. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

A source close to the True Blood star then added he had always wanted to be a dad and that those feelings only intensified as the years went on.

Earlier this month, Sofía admitted to CBS Sunday Morning that she was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy surrounding the media’s coverage of the pair’s split, which made the heartbreak easier to “overcome.”

“It wasn’t bad,” the Colombian beauty confessed.

“I have to say the press was very respectful and very nice. And I thought that they were gonna invent more things, and you know how it usually is.”

Manganiello, for his part, has moved on, too. The actor made his red carpet debut with his girlfriend, 33-year-old actress Caitlin O’Connor, in December 2023.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Sofia Vergara reveals real reason behind split from Joe Manganiello