Joe Manganiello shocked the hosts of Today on Monday morning when he revealed that he obtained a European passport for his beloved pet pooch Bubbles, after his ex-wife Sofia Vergara granted him custody of the dog in their divorce.
Joe, 47, and Sofia, 51, confirmed that they had separated in July 2023 and a month later, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that the Modern Family actress had ‘graciously’ agreed to let her ex-husband keep Bubbles 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 ‘everywhere’ with him because she has her very own passport.
Referring to the new TV show which he hosts, 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 named Bubbles, who comes with me 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 pet dog Bubbles now has a European passport
The 47-year-old actor made an appearance on Today 3rd Hour on Monday morning
Joe’s ex-wife Sofia Vergara allowed him to have 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 that point!’
Joe continued: ‘She goes everywhere [with me]. So, I became an Italian citizen last year, and I got Bubbles a European union passport! So I take Bubbles everywhere.’
Luckily for Joe, Griselda star Sofia didn’t attempt to try and keep custody of Bubbles as a source told DailyMail.com in August 2023: ‘Not in a million years would Joe part ways with his dog Bubbles and Sofia is well aware of this. Joe said Sofia was gracious about him keeping Bubbles after their break-up.
‘Neither one of them is bitter or out for revenge, and Sofia loves Bubbles and wants her to be happy which is precisely why she’s letting Joe have 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 couple of photos of Joe cuddling up to Bubbles flashed up on the screen as Joe explained to the hosts how he managed to become an Italian citizen.
‘I’m a lot of things genealogically, but I am mostly Italian and Sicilian and so we ran that back, and I qualified for Italian citizenship and I always wanted to live there and I go there pretty much every year , so I thought, “okay let’s apply”, and I got it,’ Joe revealed.
As well as taking regular trips to Europe, Joe recently took a huge step in his relationship with Caitlin O’Connor as he decided to go Instagram official with his girlfriend and has reportedly moved in with the 34-year-old actress too.
The True Blood actor confirmed that his Chihuahua-pom mix comes ‘everywhere’ with him
Joe and Bubbles pictured with Sofia in happier times before their split in July 2023
Joe took Bubbles with him when he traveled to a private island to host 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 TMZ, the couple are very much in love and relishing living under the same roof, after just three months of dating.
The Magic Mike Last Dance actor and his new lady love are said to have bonded over their growing up in Pittsburgh and have even been spotted enjoying a vacation in Italy.
Back 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 broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn’t want to be an old mom,’ Sofia explained.
The Colombian star, who is already mom to her 32-year-old son Manolo, added: ‘I feel it’s not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore.’