Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara.Photo:Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty
Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty
Howie Mandelis defending his joke aboutSofía Vergara’s new single status.
During Tuesday’s live episode ofAmerica’s Got Talent, the 67-year-old television personality joked about how Vergara, 51, isnow single and looking for new bachelorsafterher divorcefrom husbandJoe Manganiello.
Mandel later clarified that he doesn’t actually need to step in to play matchmaker for Vergara, tellingExtra, “I think everybody watching who is available believes they’re the perfect match for Sofía. I don’t think, Sofía, to be honest… she doesn’t need my help. She really doesn’t.”
Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Terry Crews, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent’.Trae Patton/NBC
Trae Patton/NBC
He also clarified that he doesn’t think Vergara should wait to date after her split from Manganiello despite users “online saying, ‘Too soon.'” He added, “I think as soon as you’re available, it’s never too soon. She’s fresh, people.”
“People thought that was mean and insensitive. If you watched Sofía, she screamed after she came over to me and thought it was funny,” he added. “She said, ‘Yes,’ so she’s got a great sense of humor and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt a fellow — a friend first, and a fellow co-worker.”
He joked that they were open to receive submissions from available suitors, adding, “We will either swipe left or right.”
Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent’.Casey Durkin/NBC
Casey Durkin/NBC
During Tuesday’s episode of the NBC talent show, ventriloquist and mentalist Brynn Cummings performed an act in which she “set"Heidi Klumup with an eligible bachelor puppet named Lovebird.
After the performance, Mandel raved about Brynn’s talents. He then quipped to the young ventriloquist: “I have one more piece of advice for you: if you’re looking for eligible bachelors, you should’ve talked to Sofía because she’s in the market right now.”
HostTerry Crewsattempted to intervene, telling the judges, “No, we’re not doing that here!”
Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara attend the celebratory dinner after the special tribute to Sophia Loren during the AFI FEST 2014 on November 12, 2014.Michael Kovac/Getty
Mandel’s comment comes a few weeks after sources confirmed to PEOPLE that Vergara and Manganiello, 46,were divorcing after seven years of marriage.
“We have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the couple shared in a statement toPage Sixin July. “As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect for our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.”
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America’s Got Talent’sresults show will air Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
