Sobriety experts have revealed how Joe Manganiello’s sobriety may have played a big part in the breakdown of his marriage to Sofia Vergara – as a source close to the couple detailed the significant ‘impact’ their different lifestyles had on their relationship.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, an insider revealed that 46-year-old Joe – who has been sober for 21 years and has been open about his past struggles with alcohol addiction – was ‘warned’ about being in a serious relationship with someone. Not actively quiet.
‘Obviously Sofia not being sober had an impact on their marriage,’ the source said.
‘She was warned about this when she started dating him and before she married him. He didn’t think he was going to change her but he didn’t think about the effect it would have on their marriage.’
The Modern Family star, 51, and the Magic Mike alum confirmed on Monday evening that they had split after seven years of marriage, announcing in a statement that they had ‘made the difficult decision to separate’ but still ‘love and care’ for each other.’
A second source close to the former couple insisted that Sofia – who often shares pictures of herself drinking alcohol on her social media accounts – ‘couldn’t be more supportive’ of her estranged husband’s sobriety.
Did Joe Manganiello’s sobriety cause a rift in his marriage to Sofia Vergara? A source close to the pair claimed that the actress’ drinking must have ‘effected’ their split
It’s no secret that Sofia loves to drink and she often shares pictures and videos of partying on her social media accounts.
However, several experts have now told DailyMail.com that relationships between a sober person and someone who still consumes alcohol rarely work, no matter how ‘supportive’ the latter is.
Joe and Sophia first started dating in August 2014 and tied the knot just over a year later in November 2015 in a stunning Florida wedding attended by 400 friends and family.
When the couple met, Joe had been sober for 12 years, deciding to quit alcohol in 2002.
Speaking about his sobriety in a 2019 interview, the actor candidly opened up about how he turned to alcohol to avoid ‘dealing’ with his problems, admitting that he was ‘broken beyond the point of being sober.
While Joe has now been sober for more than two decades, an addiction specialist told DailyMail.com that alcohol is always a ‘trigger’ for relapse – which can cause serious problems in a marriage when one spouse is still drinking.
Katrina Patterson, an addiction specialist nurse in Dallas, Texas, thinks Joe and Sophia’s marriage was ‘doomed to fail from the start’ and said anyone exposed to alcohol could have made Joe’s struggle to stay sober even more difficult. . .’
‘Nobody can overcome addiction, sobriety is something you have to work on every day of your life,’ he explained.
‘It’s a disease and when people close to you expose you to triggers. It’s going to be so hard to fight to stay calm.
‘For Joe and Sophia, it’s not like a casual dinner with friends where someone has a drink and you don’t. In a marriage, it is always in your face, and he is constantly reminded of it.
‘This kind of pressure and stress will eventually build up and affect other areas of your daily life.
‘Although two people don’t have to be calm to build a relationship, they do need to have firm and respectful boundaries.
Her soon-to-be ex-husband Joe has been sober for more than two decades – a decision he made after he claimed he was ‘broken’ and turned to alcohol to avoid ‘dealing’ with his problems.
Sofia (seen in June), 51, and Joe, 46, confirmed they had split on Monday and now, an insider claims their contrasting views on sobriety played a part in their split.
‘If she drinks in front of him (which she did and flaunted on her IG) or if she keeps alcohol in the house, it’s a problem.
‘If he had a gambling addiction, he probably wouldn’t take her to the casino. Their marriage was on a very slippery slope. He was dangling a carrot in front of him.
‘The only difference is that this carrot can destroy everything he has and everything he loves about his life.
Joe gave up all alcohol in 2002 Speaking about his sobriety in a 2019 interview, the actor candidly opened up about how he turned to alcohol to avoid ‘dealing’ with his issues, admitting that he was ‘broken beyond the point of sobriety. He was seen in 2002
Certified addiction and trauma counselor Audrey Hope compares the relationship between a sober and non-sedated person to the dynamic between two people who ‘live in a different city’ or ‘speak a different language’ from their partner.
‘When one person is sober and the other is not, it’s like you’re living in different cities, it’s like you’re speaking different languages, and it’s like you’re trying to communicate when one is on a mountaintop and the other is in a cave, ‘ he explained.
‘It can never work because every sense tries to heal when a person works with moderation.
‘For example, if your partner has been drinking, you can smell it. Making life-changing decisions is hard enough and you don’t need someone in your orbit who can influence you.’
Audrey, who is based in Los Angeles, California, called it ‘very rude’ and ‘very unfair’ to drink around someone who is actively working on their sobriety.
She added: ‘It’s selfish, and other problems in the marriage will come to the fore. Divorce is caused by selfishness, not being considerate or kind, and living in denial.
‘As an addiction therapist for over 20 years, when one partner is in rehab and the other refuses to stop, it’s only a matter of time before one goes back to drinking or you call a lawyer.’
‘Obviously the fact that Sofia is not sober has affected their marriage,’ the source said. They are seen together in December 2022
Joe and Sophia first started dating in August 2014 and tied the knot just over a year later in November 2015 in a stunning Florida wedding attended by 400 guests.
Joe cut out all alcohol in 2002, meaning he has now been sober for 21 years. He is very open about his journey, and has spoken at drug and alcohol prevention events over the years.
He opened up to Men’s Health about his decision to quit drinking in 2019, and he explained, ‘There was a point where I really thought I was broken beyond the point of settling down.
‘Drinking was a way for me not to deal with myself. And I think that acting was a way for me to not have to be.
According to experts, a relationship that involves one person who is sober and another who is not is extremely difficult to navigate. Sofia was seen last month
‘So I can go on stage and not be me, come offstage and go to a bar and not be me. Pakhlan repeated.
‘I really had to look in the mirror and be honest with myself about the person I wasn’t becoming.’
At the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention’s 13th Annual Summer Spectacular event a year ago, he said he was so outspoken about it because he wanted to help end the ‘stigma’ surrounding addiction.
‘When I was growing up, when I thought of an alcoholic, I thought of a toothless old man in a trench coat in a basement somewhere,’ she said.
‘I never thought it would apply to me. Such stigma prevented me from getting help when I knew I needed it.’
Sofia and Joe confirmed that their wedding is ending on Monday. They said in a statement: ‘We have made the difficult decision to divorce.
‘As two people who love and care for each other very much, we politely ask for our privacy to be respected as we navigate this new phase of our lives.’
When their split was first revealed, a separate source told DailyMail.com that the two had split due to their ‘different attitudes’.
Audrey Hope, a certified addiction counselor, weighed in on the situation and likened it to ‘living in a different city’ or ‘speaking a different language’ than your partner.
They said: ‘Joe is a big kid, he likes playing Dungeons and Dragons, he likes wrestling, he likes video games, superhero movies, comic books, going to concerts, huge NFL fan. He pursues fun.
Joe (seen in 2002, when he was sober) once said: ‘Drinking was a way for me not to have to deal with myself. I really had to look in the mirror and be honest with myself about the person I wasn’t becoming.’
‘He always likes to be outside and have a good time. And then when it’s time to get serious and when it’s time to work, he turns that part of himself on, but he’s always ready to live life to the fullest and go out and have fun and have fun.
‘It was an instant attraction for Sofia who is quite the opposite, sure she likes to have a good time and go out, but she’s more concerned with the finer things in life, travelling, fancy dinners, being a celebrity and all. All that comes with it.
‘She’s been told her whole life she’s super-hot and beautiful. It’s really in his head.
‘He also has a temper and gets upset easily over stupid things whereas Joe tries to push things away from him and go with the flow.
‘It didn’t really show when they fell in love, but then the true versions of themselves started showing up and they got bored with each other, choosing work over hanging out.
‘Then little by little, they stopped wanting to be together and stopped hanging out because the slightest thing would often trigger an attitude that would get them into trouble, they just had completely different views on everything and something like that is extremely bad for a relationship. And they got to a point where it would be a good day and one thing would be said or done and they would be annoyed with each other.
‘It’s added to where it’s easier and more relaxing not to be together now. When people say they’ll be friendly, they will, but the romance part of things is over. They grew a part from something that could have been really good.’