Why Was Christina Applegate Hospitalized? Health Updates Amid Her MS Battle
View galleryImage Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for ABAChristina Applegateis beloved in Hollywood, both by her peers and her fans. Sadly, theEmmy Awardwinner has had to step away from acting because of. . .
View galleryImage Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for ABAChristina Applegateis beloved in Hollywood, both by her peers and her fans. Sadly, theEmmy Awardwinner has had to step away from acting because of herbattle with multiple sclerosis. She was reportedly hospitalized in early 2026 and recently returned homePreviously, she presented at the 2023 Primetime Emmys and cracked a few jokes in typical Christina fashion, garnering countless laughs from the audience. More recently, she opened up about her symptoms with MS during a podcast interview in March 2024. Christinabroke the news about her MS diagnosis to the world in 2021, but she still managed to film the final season of her hit Netflix show,Dead to Me. Since her diagnosis, Christina has made just a few public appearances, and she’s hinted that she’snot going to act anymorebecause of her condition. Not only that, but she’s also spoken out about managing the disease. While battling such a brutal disease, Christina has shown so much strength and bravery. TheMarried…with Childrenstar has inspired so many people who cherish the actress now more than ever. Here’s everything you need to know about her health condition, how she’s doing today, and more. Rob Latour/ShutterstockChristina Applegate Diagnosed With Multiple SclerosisHi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some asshole blocks it. — christina applegate (@1capplegate)August 10, 2021Christina revealed that she has MS on August 10, 2021. “A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey,” Christinatweeted. “But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it. As one of my friends with MS said, ‘We wake up and take the indicated action. ’ And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo,” she added. What Is Multiple Sclerosis?Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and spinal cord, where the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, according to theMayo Clinic. MS causes difficulty in walking, tingling, partial or complete loss of vision, fatigue, slurred speech, and cognitive problems. There is no cure yet for MS. Treatments include medicines, equipment like braces or canes, and rehabilitation activities, according toJohns Hopkins Medicine. Another celebrity who has MS is Christina’sThe Sweetest Thingco-starSelma Blair. Selma, who has been battling MS since 2018,has been supporting Christinaever since the latter actress learned she has the autoimmune disease. How Long Has Christina Been Sick?Christina’s diagnosis resulted in a five-month production pause onDead to Meseason 3. After the news of Christina’s sickness broke, Netflix toldThe Hollywood Reporterthey would be respecting Christina’s wishes of privacy and that show would be put on hold. “We love and support Christina and respect her privacy as she takes the time and space she needs in this moment,” the streamer said. Christina elaborated more on her MS diagnosis for the first time in an interview withThe New York Timesin November 2022. The actress revealed that shegained 40 pounds and can’t walk without a canebecause of her condition. Christina also admitted that she’s “never going to accept” that she has MS and said she’s “pissed” about it. Christina, who filmed most ofDead to Meseason 3 after her diagnosis, confirmed in theNYTinterview that there were subtle signs of MS such as balance issues while she was filming the first season ofthe show, but she brushed the issues off and thought nothing of it. “I wish I had paid attention. But who was I to know?” she said. How Is Christina Doing Today?Christina Applegate gets her star on the Walk of Fame on November 14, 2022 (Photo: Shutterstock)Christina uses a cane to walk around because of her condition. She made herfirst public appearanceafter her diagnosis at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on November 14, 2022. Christina held back tears during her speech, where she thanked her daughterSadieand even cracked a joke about having MS. “Oh, by the way, I have a disease. Did you not notice? I’m not even wearing shoes,” Christina said. HerDead to Meco-starLinda Cardellinigave a speech dedicated to Christina at the Walk of Fame ceremony. Christina Applegate thanks her daughter for her support as she receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: "Thank you for standing beside me for all of this. Oh, by the way, I have a disease. Did you not notice? I'm not even wearing shoes!"https://t. co/YpWGxW0eDupic. twitter. com/EZSJBGeMHm— Variety (@Variety)November 14, 2022Christina appeared at her first award show after her diagnosis at theScreen Actors Guild Awardson February 26, 2023. She attended the event withher daughterand used a cane to walk down the red carpet. Christina was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Jen Harding inDead to Me. It’s likely that the 2023 SAGs were the final award show that Christina ever attended as an actor. That’s because she’s hinted thatDead To Mewas her final acting role because of her condition. “Right now, I couldn’t imagine getting up at 5 a. m. and spending 12 to 14 hours on a set. I don’t have that in me at this moment,” she toldLos Angeles Timesin February 2023. However, Christina said she wants to keep working in Hollywood by producing, developing, and “doing a s*** ton of voiceovers to make some cash to make sure that my daughter’s fed and we’re homed. ”In January 2024, Christina presented two awards at the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards, and she got a standing ovation the moment she approached the stage. Two months later, she opened up toPeopleabout how she lives with her condition. In the candid interview, Christina revealed that she has to wear diapers. “Well, you pee … in your pants. Because you probably can’t get to the bathroom in time,” she said. “So, yeah, diapers. ”In March 2024, the actress shareddetails about her symptomswhile appearing on Dax Shepard’sArmchair Expertpodcast. Most notably, she opened up about having 30 lesions on her brain, and she said that she felt pain in her right eye from it. Later, she spoke about how battling the condition “sucks” amid the symptoms. “I hate it so much. I’m so mad about it. You can’t overcome it,” she said. TMZreported in April 2026 that Christina had been hospitalized in late March, citing “sources with direct knowledge. ” It’s still unclear why she was brought to the hospital. In a statement toUSA Today, a rep for Christina declined to comment about the report but mentioned the actress’ “long history” of health issues. “She’s had a long history of complicated medical conditions that she has been refreshingly open about, as evidenced in her memoir and on her podcast,” Christina’s rep, Ame Vanlden said. Christina broke her silence on the situation less than a week later in an Instagram post. Without directly discussing a hospital visit, Christina thanked everyone for their well wishes. “Health issues are a constant for me, but I’m a strong chick, and I’m getting stronger and better every day,” she wrote in her caption. “I’m taking a moment to focus on my health, but I’ll be back with more to say soon enough. ”On August 3, 2026, TMZ reported that Christina had been discharged from the hospital after a nearly four-month stay. A source close to the actress told the outlet she is back home and “doing well. ”Varietyconfirmed the news, with a source saying “all is well. ”