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John Mulaney Shares “Only” Reason Why Olivia Munn’s Breast Cancer Was Discovered
John Mulaney would be the first to admit he's come a long way.
In fact, the former Saturday Night Live writer recently shared the moment he realized how much progress he'd made in his sobriety journey while helping wife Olivia Munn through her breast cancer journey.
“I remember one day she's in bed. She had the 10-hour double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, and she still has more to go,” John, 42, recalled to Ted Danson on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast May 21. “And I brought her a tray with apple juice, something she wanted to eat that her mom had made in the kitchen, and then it had Oxycodone and some sort of nerve medication and a Xanax, which they also gave just for rest and recovery.”
“I'm walking, I go, ‘Oh it never crossed my mind that I was holding these medications in my hand,’” John—who has been public about his former addiction to alcohol and cocaine—continued. “The obsession of it was gone. I thought, ‘Oh, I'm so far beyond that and I can be a good butler with the best client.’”
John—who shares kids Malcolm, 3, and Mei, 8 months, with Olivia—also spoke to his surprise that he was able to commit to his sober lifestyle amid his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis, which came just three years into his sobriety journey.
“I will admit it's a huge change,” the Everybody’s Live host added. “Just a huge way of looking at everything. And I'm shocked I did it. I'm shocked I was able to do it. Become sober. To actually stick to it in every way. To not have, ‘Well I still do this.’ Nothing wrong or shameful about relapse, I'm shocked always that it landed.”
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For John, his sobriety allowed him to be present for Olivia—who publicly shared her breast cancer diagnosis in 2023—and their children while she recovered from multiple surgeries.
“[I’m] always so addicted to the self-control of it in some ways,” he shared. “And so happy that I'm always present when I'm with my kids and Olivia and friends and everything.”
And while he’s able to look at his recovery with pride, it pales in comparison to the pride he feels for his wife and how she showed up for herself during her health battle.
“I always look back to when she was diagnosed in April, through that whole year, she wasn’t just courageous. She was fun,” he said. “We had so much fun, it was so weird. So, it wasn’t just the courage of it. She also was just always her greatest, best self throughout it.”
Keep reading to look back on John and Olivia’s romance…
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Sept. 1, 2013: First Meeting
Olivia and John met at mutual friend Seth Meyers' wedding to Alexi Ashe in Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
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Wanna Hang?
In a January 2015 HuffPost Live interview, which took place more than six months after she began dating Aaron Rodgers, Olivia recalled being at a wedding with John and his then-fiancée, Anna Marie Tendler, saying, "and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, do you and your fiancèe want to go have dinner or something and go hang out?" (John and Anna wed in 2014.)
Olivia also said she kept approaching him at the wedding, adding, "I was just so obsessed with hanging out with and talking with him."
The actress said she later sent John an email but that he did not reply. "I might've got the wrong email—probably," she told HuffPost Live. "That's what I tell myself."
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September 2020: John Enters Rehab
"I went to rehab in September [2020]," John said on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Sept. 7, 2021. "I got out in October."
John had told Esquire in 2019 that he gave up cocaine and alcohol in 2005 and had remained sober ever since.
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October 2020: John Moves Out
John revealed on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Sept. 7, 2021 that in October 2020, he'd moved out of the home he shared with wife Anna.
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October - December 2020: Relapse, Intervention and More Rehab
On the Sept. 7, 2021 episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, John says that in November 2020, "I relapse on drugs" and "then I continued using drugs." He recalls how Seth Meyers "and some other friends staged an intervention."
In December 2020, John checks into rehab again for cocaine addiction. Many celebs, including Olivia, share supportive messages to the comedian on social media.
The actress tweeted, "Sending SO MUCH love and support to John Mulaney. You got this," adding a heart and lightning bolt emoji.
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February 2021: John's Rehab Stay Ends
John completed 60 days in rehab and moved into a sober living facility for another month and a half. The comic also returned to standup comedy.
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May 2021: John Mulaney and Wife Announce Split
John and wife Anna Marie Tendler announced that they had broken up after six years of marriage.
"I am heartbroken that John has decided to end our marriage," she said through her spokesperson to Page Six. "I wish him support and success as he continues his recovery."
The comedian's rep said in a statement, "John will not have any further comment as he continues to focus on his recovery and getting back to work."
Two months later, John filed for divorce.
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May 2021: A New Romance
Soon after John and wife Anna Marie Tendler announced their breakup, E! News confirmed that he and Olivia had begun seeing each other.
"In the spring I went to Los Angeles and met and started to date a wonderful woman named Olivia, Olivia Munn," John said on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Sept. 7, 2021. "She got to date me right out of recovery, which is what they call a reverse catch."
He added, "It is a very, very lucky thing to have met this woman. It's been a challenging time. I got into this relationship that's been really beautiful with someone incredible who has like, dealt with the non-coked up Bambi version of me and that's been very incredible and she's kind of held my hand through that hell."
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June 2021: Lunch Date
Olivia and John were photographed together for the first time, having lunch outdoors on Saturday afternoon at Rick's Drive In & Out, a hamburger eatery in Los Angeles.
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September 2021: Is That a...?
On Sept. 4, 2021, Olivia was photographed wearing a baggy sweatshirt while walking in a parking garage in Los Angeles, fueling pregnancy rumors.
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September 2021: Pregnancy Confirmed
On the Sept. 7, 2021 episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers, John confirmed Olivia's pregnancy. "We are having a baby, together," he said. "I'm going to be a dad. We're both really, really happy."
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Sepember 2021: Stepping Out as a Couple
The two are spotted in NYC three days after John confirmed his relationship with Olivia and her pregnancy. Olivia sported a "Noelle Jumpsuit" from HATCH.
oliviamunn / Instagram
November 2021: It's a Boy!
Olivia reportedly gave birth on Nov. 24. She and John shared the first photo of their son on Christmas Eve.
"Meet Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney," the comedian wrote. "He has his whole life ahead of him. He hasn't even tried seltzer yet. I'm very in love with him and his whole deal. Happy Holidays."
January 2022: Family Fun Day
Olivia shared this photo of herself with John, baby Malcolm and friends Henry Golding, his wife Liv Lo and their daughter Lyla.
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February 2022: SNL After-Party
The two celebrate with the Saturday Night Live cast after John's fifth time hosting the show, during which he was officially inducted into the Five-Timer's Club."
Watch E! News weeknights Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m., only on E!.
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