Jerry O’Connell Reveals How Risqué Joke Ended John Stamos Feud
Actor Jerry O’Connell has detailed the surprising and rather daring humor he employed to mend his long-standing rift with John Stamos. The tension between the two actors stemmed from Stamos’s 2005 divorce from Rebecca Romijn, whom O’Connell later married in 2007.
Public Tensions Reignited by Memoir
Years after the initial separation, public animosity resurfaced in 2023 when Stamos published his memoir, “If You Would Have Told Me.” In the book, Stamos candidly discussed his divorce from Romijn, admitting he once harbored intense negative feelings towards his ex-wife, even referring to her as “the Devil.” Romijn later stated she was “blindsided” by these remarks, while O’Connell publicly criticized Stamos’s comments.
An Unexpected Reconciliation
The public saw signs of a truce in November when O’Connell and Stamos were photographed together at a birthday celebration, alongside Stamos’s wife, Caitlin McHugh. This unexpected appearance followed years of unresolved conflict.
The Joke That Broke the Ice
Speaking on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, O’Connell revealed the specific exchange that paved the way for this reconciliation. During a hug at the party, O’Connell whispered two provocative jokes to Stamos.
“I whispered to him when I hugged him, ‘She says you’re bigger than me. Do you want her back?'” O’Connell recounted. He then followed up with another bold quip: “‘She says Greeks are better lovers.'”
Nerves and a Bold Approach
O’Connell admitted to feeling apprehensive about approaching Stamos, given the history of public tension. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to make a beeline for him. I’ve got to go extend my hand,'” he recalled. He described his initial greeting as, “Hey man, how are you? It’s so good to see you.” However, as he moved in for a hug, O’Connell was actively strategizing what to say to avoid reigniting their feud.
“I just gave him a hug and I’m trying to figure out what I can say without upsetting John and starting a beef here,” he confessed.
Stamos’s Memoir and Romijn’s Reaction
In his memoir, Stamos reflected on feeling “emasculated” as Romijn’s career gained momentum. He wrote about feeling overshadowed and believing he was “the TV guy and she’s the newly minted star.” He also described the divorce as “shattering” and stated, “In my mind back then, she was the Devil, and I just hated her. I couldn’t believe how much I hated her, and it ruined my life.”
Romijn, when asked about Stamos’s memoir, expressed her surprise. “I was very surprised by all of that, incredibly shocked actually,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “I was sort of blindsided by it.” She added that she did not wish to contribute to the book’s promotion.
O’Connell’s Initial Response and Stamos’s Reflection
When O’Connell was questioned about Stamos’s memoir in 2023, he offered a brief, “People gotta make a living, I guess.” Stamos, in his book, also discussed his journey of self-reflection, acknowledging his own role in the marital difficulties. He recounted realizing, “Oh, she wasn’t the Devil. Maybe I was as much to blame as her.” He described the public nature of their split as “very painful.”
Despite the criticism surrounding his memoir, Stamos stated in 2024 that he does not regret writing about Romijn, citing a belief that “anything less than the truth is paralysis… it sets you free.”
A Chance Encounter and Lasting Connection
The connection between Romijn and O’Connell began at a Maxim Hot 100 party in 2004, leading to their marriage in 2007. O’Connell previously shared an anecdote from 2017 about meeting his wife and her then-husband, John Stamos, at a party. He recalled being struck by Romijn’s beauty and wit, noting an immediate click between them. He emphasized that despite the circumstances, “no shenanigans happened.”
