John Mulaney has been candid about the toll quitting drugs took on his body when he opened up about hiding his addiction issues.
The 41-year-old comedian, whose partner Olivia Munn recently underwent breast cancer surgery, was the guest on the new episode of Netflix chat show My Next Guest With David Letterman.
In it, he discussed his rehab period from late 2020 to early 2021 with the 77-year-old TV legend, saying: “It’s not immediately a good night’s sleep and serenity.”
He explained that despite having a stellar group of friends who convinced him to go to rehab, he was a little tired of it all and it was an especially tough experience when it started to take its toll on him physically.
Mulaney said: ‘I had no gratitude. The actual drug detox was very physically uncomfortable and he had been taking a lot of benzodiazepines like Xanax and Klonopin.
John Mulaney has been candid about the toll quitting drugs took on his body when he opened up about hiding his addiction issues on the new episode of Netflix chat show My Next Guest with David Letterman.
‘Getting out of them can be very difficult. I was in the detox room at the hospital and I was grinding my teeth so much that I broke a tooth.’
The process was especially difficult at first, as she admitted she wanted to leave after just four days and even told her doctor she was leaving.
The comedian explained: ‘He didn’t argue or anything. He just said, “John, we both know how this movie ends.” And that was it.”‘
Things have changed substantially in the comedian’s life, as he told Letterman that December 20 will mark three years of sobriety for him.
Last month, the comedian broke his silence after his girlfriend Olivia Munn revealed her breast cancer diagnosis, writing a sweet message to his other half after she shared the surprising health update.
Mulaney, who shares two-year-old son Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney with Munn, commented on a post his girlfriend made announcing her diagnosis in March.
The comedian said he and his son “love” Munn and thanked him for “fighting so hard” to be there with them.
‘Thank you for fighting so hard to be here for us. Malc and I adore you,’ she commented, along with a red heart emoji.
In her post, Munn, 43, revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had undergone four surgeries in the past 10 months.
Mulaney said: ‘I had no gratitude. The actual drug detox was very physically uncomfortable and he had been taking a lot of benzodiazepines like Xanax and Klonopin. ‘Getting out of them can be very difficult. She was in the hospital detox room and grinding her teeth so much that I broke a tooth’; He was seen at the Oscars last month
Last month, the comedian broke his silence after his girlfriend Olivia Munn revealed her breast cancer diagnosis, writing a sweet message to his other half after she shared the surprising health update; the couple photographed attending the Oscars in March
The couple shares their two-year-old son, Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney.
Mulaney left this sweet comment on Munn’s post.
Mulaney, who was previously married to Anna Marie Tendler, has been in a relationship with Munn since 2021.
In her post announcing her diagnosis, Munn wrote: ‘In February 2023, in an effort to be more proactive about my health, I took a genetic test that looks for 90 cancer genes. The results of all tests were negative, including BRCA (the best known breast cancer gene).
‘My sister Sara had also just tested negative. We called each other and high-fived each other on the phone. That same winter I also had a negative mammogram.
“Two months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”
He continued: ‘In the last ten months I have had four surgeries, spent so many days in bed I can’t even count them and I have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I ever imagined.
‘Surprisingly, I have only cried twice. I guess I didn’t feel like there was time to cry. My focus narrowed and I put off emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to keep a clear mind.
‘I have tended to let people see me when I have energy, when I can get dressed and leave the house, when I can take my baby to the park. I’ve kept the diagnosis, the worry, the recovery, the painkillers, and the paper gowns private.
“I needed to catch my breath and get through some of the harder parts before sharing.”
Olivia praised her OB-GYN for deciding to calculate her breast cancer risk assessment score, adding, “The fact that he did it saved my life.”
‘Dr. Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, my family history of breast cancer, and the fact that I had my first child after age 30. He found that my lifetime risk was 37 percent.
Mulaney, who shares two-year-old son Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney with Munn, commented on a post his girlfriend made announcing her diagnosis last month.
In her post, Munn revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and has undergone four surgeries in the past 10 months.
Olivia praised her OB-GYN for deciding to calculate her breast cancer risk assessment score, adding, “The fact that he did it saved my life.”
Olivia revealed that she had also undergone a double mastectomy, adding: “I went from feeling completely fine one day to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next day.”
She shared the health update in a statement released in March.
‘Because of that score, I was sent for an MRI, which led to an ultrasound, which then led to a biopsy. The biopsy showed that she had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive and fast-moving cancer.
’30 days after that biopsy I had a double mastectomy. I went from feeling completely fine one day to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next day.’
Olivia, who attended the 2024 Oscars over the weekend with John, added: “I’m lucky. We caught him early enough for him to have options. I want the same for any woman who has to face this one day.”
She then urged her followers to ask their doctors to calculate their breast cancer risk assessment score, as well as insisting that women stay up to date with their annual mammograms and breast MRIs.
Munn at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party with Maloney over the weekend
‘I am so grateful to my friends and family for loving me through all of this. I am very grateful to John for the nights he spent researching what each operation and medication meant and what side effects and recovery he could expect.
“For being there before I went to every surgery and being there when I woke up, always putting up framed photos of our little Malcolm so he would be the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes,” the star wrote.
Olivia concluded: ‘Thank you to friends who have had breast cancer and friends who connected me with friends who have had breast cancer for guiding me through some of my most uncertain and overwhelming months.
‘I am extremely grateful for the nurses, patient coordinators and staff at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and Saint John’s in Santa Monica. I specifically want to thank my surgical oncologist, Dr. Armando Giuliano, my reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Jay Orringer, my oncologist, Dr. Monica Mita, and especially my guardian angel, Dr. Thais Aliabadi. ‘
Olivia wrote in her caption: “I hope sharing this helps others find comfort, inspiration and support in their own journey.”
