The Truth About Olivia Munn's Relationship With John Mulaney
The following article references addiction and mental health issues.
Olivia Munn and John Mulaney: who would've thought? The surprise pair are one of the most shocking celebrity couples of 2021, trumped only by Bennifer 2.0 (a reunion nobody — and we repeat nobody – saw coming when Ben Affleck trashed that life-size cardboard cutout of ex Ana de Armas). A divorce filing and some tabloid pregnancy speculation later, Munn and Mulaney revealed they're expecting! Talk about a whirlwind.
As it played out in the media, Mulaney's year has been one of healing and self-discovery. The star spent time in and out of rehab, moved house, and jumped into a new (and from the looks of it, serious) relationship. He credits Munn and his future child for his recovery. During a "Late Night" appearance, the star gushed to Seth Meyers, "Olivia and this baby have helped save me from myself."
Munn, on the other hand, has stayed mum. So, what's really going on inside her blossoming new relationship? From the looks of it, the "X-Men: Apocalypse" actor was crushing hard for a while.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Olivia Munn first met John Mulaney at a wedding – and she was 'obsessed'
Olivia Munn and John Mulaney may be in the midst of a romance in 2021, but their paths first crossed eight years prior. The only problem seemingly was that Mulaney wasn't all that interested. Oh yeah, they were also linked to other people.
As Page Six recounted, the pair set off to Seth Meyers' wedding in 2013, but not together. Munn was dating Will Forte (the girl clearly likes a man who can make her laugh) and Mulaney was recently engaged to Anna Marie Tendler. Nonetheless, Munn could not fight the pull of Mulaney's vortex. As she told HuffPost Live in 2015, she kept trying to befriend the comedian and his fiancé, inviting them to dinner and asking them to hang out.
"At first it was cool, and then I kept going up to him at the wedding like 'So you having fun?'" she said, adding, "I was just so obsessed with hanging out with and talking with him." Munn tried to contact him via email, but she never heard back. "I might've got the wrong email — probably," she said. "That's what I tell myself."
John Mulaney married Anna Marie Tendler the following year
If only Olivia Munn's email wasn't ignored, she could have lived out a live action version of Taylor Swift's "Speak Now." Alas, the year following Seth Meyers' wedding, John Mulaney and Anna Marie Tendler got hitched — and, as far as we know, no one dramatically objected during the ceremony.
In a now-deleted Instagram post (captured in a previous report from Nicki Swift), Mulaney referred to his July 2014 wedding as "a beautiful and perfect day" where he "married a beautiful and perfect woman." The pair tied the knot at Onteora Mountain House in the Catskill Mountains, a location they chose because it wasn't anything like New York City. "John and I wanted to get married in nature," Tendler told Green Wedding Shoes. "Though we'd lived in New York City for 10 years, the wedding ceremony just seemed like something that should take place within the peaceful surroundings of trees and mountains instead of concrete and skyscrapers."
According to Us Weekly, the guest list included comedy world heavyweights like Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Nick Kroll, and Nasim Pedrad. It's unclear if "SNL's" drunk girl you wish you hadn't started a conversation with was also on the roster, but we're guessing her invitation was lost in the mail.
Olivia Munn took time to heal after heartbreak
While John Mulaney settled into married life, Olivia Munn navigated a tumultuous relationship. According to Page Six, she started dating NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2014, but by 2016, she found herself smack dab in the middle of his family drama. So how bad was it?
According to Us Magazine, Munn didn't fit into Rodgers' family, and her interactions with them had "gone badly." There was some gossip about whether Aaron stopped speaking to his family or was excommunicated. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but either way, it became somewhat of a Bachelor Nation plotline as Aaron's estranged brother Jordan Rodgers was set to marry former "Bachelorette" star JoJo Fletcher. The news seemed like the beginning of the end, and over the next year, it became clear that Munn and Aaron were on a one-way street to Splitsville.
In 2019, two years post-breakup, Munn reflected on a particularly messy relationship on Catt Sadler's "Naked" podcast. Per USA Today, the actor revealed her time with one specific former beau who made her feel like she was "in the middle of the ocean with no life raft, no life vest, and every day I had to just keep going 'cause eventually, it will get better." (She didn't say who, but a the time, Aaron was her most recent, serious ex, so make of that what you will.) When it finally ended, she felt "worthless." She credits her friends and family for helping her through.
John Mulaney relapsed, went to rehab, and moved out
John Mulaney has been open about his struggles with substance abuse. In 2019, the former "SNL" writer told Esquire that he quit cocaine and alcohol in 2005 when he was 23 years old — but there was definitely a struggle behind the scenes in the months following his profile. After more than a decade of sobriety, the comedian relapsed.
During an eye-opening September 2021 appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," Mulaney revealed that he quietly went to rehab the year prior. This event inadvertently led him to Munn. How? When he finished the program in October, he moved out of the New York apartment he shared with Anna Marie Tendler, presumably to another property the pair shared in Los Angeles (months later, Page Six reported that Tendler was spotted moving out of their California home around the same time Munn was spotted hanging around).
Amidst the move, Tendler and Mulaney managed to keep their marriage issues (and the comedian's first stint at rehab) under wraps. Mulaney hosted the Halloween episode of "Saturday Night Live," and fans were none the wiser.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
John Mulaney gave rehab another try, and Olivia Munn sent well wishes
John Mulaney's first rehab stay in 2020 wasn't his last. The star relapsed shortly after completing the program, and he probably wouldn't have returned if not for an intervention staged by some of the top talent at "Saturday Night Live" (think: Seth Meyers and Fred Armisen). How serious was it? Mulaney revealed during his "Late Night" appearance that "no one did bits the entire time" despite the fact that it was a "We Are the World of alternative comedians over the age of 40."
"When I opened the door, I knew it was an intervention. That's how bad of a drug problem I had," he said (not to mention, he was late to his own intervention because he got "coked up" and decided to pester the "SNL" hair and makeup department for a haircut).
Mulaney went back to rehab in December, this time for a 60-day program. When the news hit headlines, Munn showed her support. "Sending SO Much love and support to John Mulaney. You got this," she tweeted, punctuating her note with a heart and lightning bolt emoji. Since numerous celebrities and fans also tweeted out encouraging messages, Munn's post didn't raise an eyebrow. After completing the program in February 2021, Mulaney was performing again by May.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
John Mulaney and Anna Marie Tendler announced their divorce
News of John Mulaney's divorce first surfaced in the tabloids in May 2021, around the same time he announced his first string of post-rehab tour dates — but it was actually brewing behind the scenes for a while. A tipster told Deux Moi (via The Sun) that Anna Marie Tendler, who temporarily deleted her Instagram account, unfollowed Mulaney before he left for rehab. When it came to the pair's actual divorce, the tabloids were three months late to the game.
According to Page Six, the comedian asked his estranged wife for a divorce in February, right when he returned from rehab and began outpatient sober care. He spent the next month and a half at a sober living facility before moving to Los Angeles where he reportedly connected with Munn.
"I am heartbroken that John has decided to end our marriage," Tendler told Page Six through a spokesperson. "I wish him support and success as he continues his recovery." According to Us Weekly, Mulaney officially filed for divorce in July, a month after making his first public appearance with Munn.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
In May 2021, Olivia Munn reconnected with John Mulaney at church
Days after news of John Mulaney's divorce hit headlines, People confirmed that the comedian was officially dating Olivia Munn. Apparently, it all came down to a chance meeting at church (hey, it worked for Justin and Hailey Bieber). Keeping with the timeline the comedian gave Seth Meyers, the romance blossomed sometime in the spring when he went to Los Angeles.
"She got to date me right out of recovery, which is what they call a reverse catch," Mulaney said, adding, "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."
In May 2021, a source told People that the pair were "taking it slowly" and things were "very new." Another alleged insider shared with E! News that their relationship was "not at all rushed" and the couple had "always been friendly." John was reportedly still focused on his recovery, and Munn was supporting him on the sidelines.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Olivia Munn secretly attended John Mulaney's comedy shows
Olivia Munn and John Mulaney managed to hide from the paparazzi for an entire season, which is no small feat. During this time, an insider told Us Weekly that Munn had been "sneaking into some of his shows" completely undetected. In fact, it was comedy (along with church) that brought the couple together. Think of it as a bizarro version of HBO's "Crashing."
According to a source who spoke to Us Weekly, Mulaney wasn't the only comedian in the relationship. The "Love Wedding Repeat" actor also made him laugh, and the pair bonded over their "very dry sense of humor." Munn, who was reportedly "smitten," allegedly spent this time on "cloud nine" — but it was only a matter of time before the pair were spotted out in public.
At the end of June, People published the first photos taken of the duo, who appeared to be on a lunch date in Los Angeles. The couple were "all smiles," and an alleged insider claimed "they were having a great time during lunch, laughing and talking. They were really enjoying each other's company." The cat was officially out of the bag (but remember, Mulaney still hadn't filed for divorce. That came the following month).
Cue the pregnancy rumors
In September 2021, John Mulaney was officially on his way to divorce. The paperwork was in. The fans absorbed the shock (Mulaney had a tendency to praise his wife in his standup routine). The press was just starting to die down. In other words, it was the perfect time for some old fashioned pregnancy gossip.
In recent years, fans have gotten a lot better at predicting which celebrities are hiding actual pregnancies. Our culture is — hopefully — past the phase of perpetual fake Jennifer Aniston baby rumors. Instead, fans are focused on deciphering whether or not nail polish color can prove that Kylie Jenner is hiding her baby bump (it can!). The same goes for Olivia Munn, who Page Six reported was spotted in a parking garage on September 4, 2021, toting around what appeared to be a baby bump. The Internet promptly erupted with speculation.
So far, nothing was conclusive. As A.V. Club writer Tatiana Tenreyro noted on Twitter, "This is what I look like on a regular basis. Does that mean I'm pregnant with John Mulaney's kid?"
John Mulaney originally didn't want kids
John Mulaney is proof that people change — and change quickly. Just two years before he reconnected with Olivia Munn, the comedian (who was in the midst of promoting his children's show "John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch") admitted that he didn't want kids. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the star revealed that his busy schedule was to blame, and his now-estranged wife fully understood his decision.
"[Kids are] great, but I love what I do," he said. "And I love my wife and spending so much time with her and we have a really fortunate life. I get to travel, do stand-up, and our relationship is so wonderful. It's just something I wouldn't want to change."
Fast forward, and everything about Mulaney's life has changed. The novel coronavirus pandemic made travel (at least temporarily) unattainable. Mulaney's stand-up career was put on pause. His relationship with Anna Marie Tendler unraveled, but he's finally at a place where he's looking forward to being a father.
Olivia Munn wasn't sold on children, either
John Mulaney isn't the only one who wasn't sold on becoming a parent. There was a point not too long ago where Olivia Munn felt overwhelmed with the idea. In a 2019 ET interview, the actor revealed that she "already love[s] my life as it is" and wasn't sure how kids would fit into the mix. Sound familiar? It should because that's pretty much what Mulaney told Entertainment Weekly.
"I have two dogs, two cats, so that's a lot just with the animals. I don't have kids. I mean honestly it's a lot. I can't imagine," she said in the aforementioned ET interview. "I've really come to a realization with myself that I'm already in my happily ever after. And if I want to have kids or want to get married, then I'll do that, but it has to add to my life, you know? Everything has to add to my life."
Apparently, Mulaney is a clear value-add. Sources that spoke to Us Weekly allege that Munn actually did really want to become a mom and froze her eggs years ago just in case. "The time must've been right for her now, especially if she knew John was the one she'd want to have a baby with," said a source. You heard it: John Mulaney is the one.
Psych! Olivia Munn really is pregnant
Olivia Munn is notoriously private about her relationships, typically never naming names and only speaking about what went down after the breakup (Aaron Rodgers drama notwithstanding). At the time of this writing, we still haven't heard from the star regarding her pregnancy. She isn't even Instagram official with her comedian beau, but he has served as her spokesperson.
After the parking garage paparazzi, John Mulaney let pregnancy rumors fly for exactly three days. The tabloids barely had a chance to go down the rabbit hole of celebrity conspiracy theories and possible infidelity timelines (which we'll get to later). The comedian confirmed the news during a September 2021 appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," which blew the lid off his multiple rehab stints and whirlwind year.
"In the spring, I went to Los Angeles, and met and started to date a wonderful woman named Olivia — Olivia Munn," he said. "I'm going to be a dad. We're both really, really happy." And there you have it.
John Mulaney and Olivia Munn probably won't tie the knot anytime soon
While Olivia Munn and John Mulaney prepare for the baby, it doesn't seem like they're in any rush to walk down the aisle. The comedian has a handful of (mostly sold out) gigs slated across the next few months and is focused on his recovery. Munn, on the other hand, isn't really a fan of weddings.
In 2020, the "Love Wedding Repeat" actor told Variety that she's only ever been to four or five weddings and finds them "boring" (though it's unclear if her opinion extends to the wedding where she met Mulaney). In that same interview, she also revealed that she has "never have ever been that girl" who dreams of getting married. "And I'll hear about friends who have, and I've just never been the person that's like, 'Oh, I can't wait to get married. This is what it's going to be like, what my ring would be,'" she continued. "I don't really have any of those." As far as the "idea of getting married" and becoming legally tied to another person is concerned, she said, "I'm like, 'It's hot in here, right?' It's like, 'Really?' ... Yeah, I just feel like to pick one person forever."
At the time of this writing, Mulaney's divorce isn't even finalized, so Munn has plenty of time to mull it over.
Does the pair's relationship timeline check out?
During his appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," John Mulaney clearly laid out the timeline of his relationship with Olivia Munn. For months, there have been rumors of reported infidelity, as noted in Page Six. According to the outlet, it was supposedly bad enough that Anna Marie Tendler checked into rehab for "emotional reasons," though Tendler has never spoken publicly on the subject. If Mulaney was clear about his timeline with Munn, it's only because he had to be. The speculation was already out there, and not everyone was sold on his budding relationship.
According to a celebrity agent who spoke to Page Six, the whole thing was suspicious. "It seems to me that he is going to great lengths to dispute the idea that he cheated," the agent said. "[Munn] has a demonstrated history of hanging out with and spending time with 'SNL' guys, so no way did their paths not cross, and there is the video of them together back in 2017."
The video in question? In 2017, the pair were spotted together during John Stewart's "Night of Too Many Stars" HBO special, but Munn has never hidden the fact that they've been in each other's periphery for years. What was the extent of their relationship? We'll probably never know, but Mulaney has said his piece.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.