Controversy Surrounds Howie Mandel’s Latest Joke About Sofia Vergara’s Relationship Status

On September 13, while recording America’s Got Talent, Sofia Vergara had to do a lie detector test. The judges, including Howie Mandel, took advantage of this for some fun. They made her sit in a strange chair shaped like tater tots and put an arm cuff on her to check her vital signs.

Terry Crews introduced the “tot seat,” a heated seat that looks like tater tots. When Crews asked if any of the judges wanted to try the test, Simon Cowell suggested Vergara. So, they started asking her different questions.

Howie Mandel asked one question, and it didn’t go the way they expected.

Mandel asked Vergara if she liked anyone in the crowd, talking about her being single for almost ten years and looking for love. Surprisingly, she didn’t answer and took off the arm cuff, going back to her judge’s table.

Many people online are upset with Howie Mandel for this question, especially because he made a similar joke about Vergara being single just a few weeks ago. In an interview with Extra, Mandel talked about it. Some online thought the joke was “too soon,” but Mandel disagreed, saying, “I think it’s never too soon as long as you’re available.” He also mentioned he wouldn’t have made the joke if he knew it would make her feel bad.

On July 17, Sofia Vergara and her husband Joe Manganiello, who were married for seven years, announced they were separating. Just two days later, on July 18, Joe filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” In their joint statement, they said they loved and respected each other but didn’t give details.

“We have made the difficult decision to divorce,” they said in a statement on July 17. Separation papers showed that the couple split up on July 2. “Because we love and care about each other a lot, we kindly ask that you please give us some space while we get used to this new part of our lives.”

There was a prenuptial deal between the two people, and it was thought that Joe wanted a divorce because Vergara didn’t want kids. They got married in November 2015 after meeting for the first time in May 2014. There is a child between Sofia and a former partner.