Christina Applegate maintains 'sarcastic humor' amid ongoing MS battle

Christina Applegate is continuing to lean on her trademark sense of humor as she navigates an “extremely difficult” battle with multiple sclerosis, according to her longtime co-star David Faustino.

The 54-year-old actress was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition in 2021, a disease that can cause muscle weakness, vision changes, and severe fatigue. Since then, she has largely stepped back from public appearances while focusing on her health.

Faustino, who starred alongside Applegate on the hit sitcom Married… With Children, recently offered an update on how the actress is coping during an interview with Us Weekly.

“It’s extremely difficult for me to understand having a debilitating disease. I can’t. I don’t know what that’s like. I can only go from her experience and what she’s told me,” he said.

He added that despite the challenges, Applegate continues to show strength and resilience while facing her condition.

“I admire her being strong in the face of this, even though it’s been a real blow. It’s been very hard for her, but she does keep her humor,” he said.

Faustino noted that Applegate’s “dry, sarcastic sense of humor” has been part of her personality since they first worked together, and remains a key part of how she copes today.

“She gets through this with some humor, and that’s kind of her way that she moves through it,” he said, adding that she remains “extremely sarcastic” despite her ongoing health struggles.

He also shared that he continues to support his former co-star and remains in regular contact with her.

The pair portrayed siblings Kelly and Bud Bundy on Married… With Children, which ran for 10 seasons before ending in 1997.

In recent years, Applegate has spoken openly about her diagnosis and the challenges of living with MS, including on her podcast MesSy, which she co-hosts with actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who was diagnosed with MS in 2002.

In a 2025 episode, Applegate revealed the severity of her symptoms, saying she had been hospitalized more than 30 times over a three-year period due to intense pain, vomiting, and other complications related to her condition.

“They’ve done every test known to man on me,” she said at the time, describing the extensive medical procedures she has undergone since her diagnosis.

Despite the ongoing difficulties, Applegate continues to share her experience publicly while relying on humor and candid honesty as part of her coping process.