Brandi Glanville Opens Up About Ex-Husband's Lack of Support During Health Crisis
Reality television star Brandi Glanville has publicly claimed that her former husband, actor Eddie Cibrian, failed to provide support during her debilitating health battle with breast implant illness. The 53-year-old television personality revealed this emotional detail during a recent episode of the I Do, Part 2 podcast, where she discussed the extensive medical journey that has cost her approximately $200,000.
The Costly Medical Mystery
Glanville, best known for her role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has been grappling with a mysterious facial disfigurement that she initially believed was caused by a parasite. She has since disclosed that the condition actually stemmed from damaged breast implants that led to a severe infection. When directly asked whether Cibrian had offered any support during her health struggles, Glanville responded with a simple, "No."
"He has not shown support," Glanville elaborated. "But we are getting along and that's all I can ask for. We are together on holidays." The media personality shares two sons, Mason, 22, and Jake, 18, with Cibrian, and mentioned missing several holiday gatherings due to her illness. "I literally would lay in bed for four days straight," she recalled of her lowest points.
A $200,000 Diagnostic Odyssey
Glanville's path to diagnosis was both arduous and expensive. She visited 21 different doctors in her quest for answers, accumulating medical bills totaling $200,000. Despite having insurance through Kaiser Permanente, she criticized the coverage, stating, "Kaiser let's just say, sucks." Much of her treatment required out-of-pocket payments to specialists including infectious disease doctors and rheumatologists.
The symptoms appeared "overnight" and were predominantly concentrated on her left side, though her right breast implant had actually ruptured. This rupture caused "silicone in both my lymph nodes," which subsequently led to the facial infection. Glanville described how the silicone "caused the infection in my face, and it couldn't get out because my lymph nodes were all clogged."
Family Dynamics and Past Conflicts
Glanville and Cibrian were married from 2001 until their separation in 2009, following his affair with singer LeAnn Rimes. Their divorce was finalized in 2010, with Cibrian marrying Rimes the following year. Glanville also noted that Rimes did not offer support during her health crisis, though they maintain civil relations for family gatherings.
In a revealing moment, Glanville shared that her eldest son Mason had inadvertently disclosed her breast implant issues to Rimes during a conversation. "She's like, 'So it's your breast implants?' I'm like, 'No.' And I looked at Mason and he's like, 'What, she got it out of me,'" Glanville recounted.
The reality star has been candid about the emotional toll of the infidelity, once admitting in a 2021 op-ed that she felt "rage" toward Rimes. However, she emphasized that they have since developed a respectful relationship, stating, "These days, I love LeAnn. She's great and we all hang out together. I've forgiven her."
Surgical Intervention and Financial Strain
After extensive consultations, Glanville underwent what has been described as "life-saving surgery" to remove her damaged implants. The procedure was performed by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ourian, who provided her with new implants designed to have a "lower risk of rupture." Glanville expressed shock at the discovery of her implant damage, noting that mammograms had previously indicated they were fine.
The financial impact has been severe. "I'm paying the minimum on my credit cards. I've exhausted my savings," Glanville revealed. "At my age, I feel like such a loser in a way, because I was taking care of everything. I was together. I had great credit. Now I'm scared about every little thing." To contest insurance denials, she enlisted healthcare strategist Rachel Strauss, known as the PBM Princess.
Despite the challenges, Glanville remains optimistic about her recovery. "I'm two weeks out right now, but the first week, I was, like, up," she shared. "I was actually doing too much because I was so excited to be moving." Her journey highlights both the physical and emotional complexities of breast implant illness, family dynamics after divorce, and the substantial financial burdens of navigating the healthcare system.
