Joe Manganiello's Reason For Heading Down The Aisle Again Revealed

Joe Manganiello is willing to give marriage a second chance after finding the perfect match!

A source recently shed light on the "True Blood" star's decision to propose to Caitlin O'Connor two years after announcing his split from Sofia Vergara. They claimed he popped the big question because of his similarities with his new fiancée.

Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor first met in September 2023, shortly after the actor and Sofia Vergara announced their separation in July. The former couple finalized their divorce in February 2024 amid Manganiello and O'Connor's blossoming relationship.

According to a source, Manganiello feels ready to walk down the aisle a second time because of O'Connor's background. His fiancée allegedly reminded him of home, as they both come from the Pittsburgh area, unlike Vergara, who was born and raised in Colombia.

"He was coming off of a seven-year marriage, [and] I think it was nice for him to meet a girl that was from his hometown," the source told The Daily Mail.

They seemingly threw shade at Vergara, claiming that it was nice that Manganiello could find someone who understood how he grew up and who he was beyond the glitz and glam.

"[This relationship] is a sweet hometown feel for both of them," the source added. They also noted that Manganiello's proposal wasn't a "complete shock"because he and O'Connor had been talking about their future. Manganiello, per the source, popped the big question in a private moment.

After getting down on one knee, Manganiello and O'Connor told "very few people"because they wanted to protect their privacy. The source explained that "they kind of wanted to keep something for themselves for as long as they could."

Keeping their engagement a secret reportedly felt like a "nice, blissful moment" for the lovebirds. Although the cat was finally out of the bag, the source claimed they would continue to enjoy their engagement phase instead of jumping straight into their wedding plans.

"It wasn't something they worked on right away. It wasn't like they called their wedding planner the next day. It's nice. For now, they're happily engaged," the source alleged. Their words came days after Manganiello confirmed his engagement to O'Connor.

Manganiello broke the news on Instagram, sharing a cute picture with O'Connor and their beloved Chihuahua. The Blast shared that O'Connor flashed her stunning diamond gem on her left wedding ring finger, smiling brightly as she cuddled closer to Manganiello.

The TV personality first announced his engagement to O'Connor at the San Diego Film Festival while accepting his Career Spotlight award. During his speech, Manganiello referred to O'Connor as his fiancée, thanking her for her love and support.

The news came two years after the couple's first meeting in September 2023. They met in a hot tub at the post-premiere party for O'Connor's HBO show, "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty." That same month, they were photographed leaving the Gold's Gym in California together.

If fans did not understand how serious Manganiello was about O'Connor, he proved their relationship wasn't a simple rebound with a bold move. The Blast reported in February 2024 that the ink had barely dried on the actor's divorce settlement when he and O'Connor began living together.

Sources shared that the TV personality was head over heels for O'Connor, and even his dog, Bubbles, had warmed up to her. Before moving in together, Manganiello and his partner made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2023 NYC Children of Armenia Fund Gala.

As their love blossomed, Manganiello's ex-wife also found a new man to sweep her off her feet. She caused a stir for her romance with Justin Saliman, an orthopedic surgeon, whom fans noticed bore a striking resemblance to her ex-fiancé, Nick Loeb.

The Blast covered fans’ comments in July 2024, reporting that many were shocked by the physical similarities between Saliman and Loeb. The comparison theories began after Vergara flaunted her new man on Instagram.

The pictures captured Saliman enjoying what appeared to be a tropical vacation with Vergara; however, fans could not get over how much he looked like her ex. The comments were filled with comparisons between the pair, with someone noting they initially believed Vergara was back with Loeb.

Others claimed Vergara's new man was a better version of her ex, with one fan claiming that she had “really upgraded.” A fellow supporter agreed, gushing about Saliman's good looks. Vergara famously dated Loeb for two years before their 2012 engagement, but their romance ended in 2014.

Will Joe Manganiello's love for privacy lead to a secret wedding?