Jon Bon Jovi Shares an Update on His Relationship With Former Bandmate Richie Sambora

Jon Bon Jovi opened up about his estrangement from former bandmate Richie Sambora in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. Bon Jovi is promoting the debut of Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which premieres April 26 on Hulu and Disney+.

Sambora left the legendary rock group in 2013, almost exactly 30 years after the band’s hit song "Runaway" put them on the map. Since departing, Sambora has played only once with the band—at their 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Speaking to ET, the artist pushed back against rumors of a dramatic falling out between himself and Sambora. "There was never a fight," Bon Jovi said. "It was never about money, it was never about a girlfriend. [Sambora] had issues, and he literally didn't show up. We were playing for 20,000 people and there's a black hole on the stage."

Bon Jovi said he understood Sambora’s behavior to a degree, but had to draw the line when it endangered his livelihood and those of their road crew. "Substance abuse or anxieties or single parenting, all those things weighed on him, losing his dad. These were all very hard things," he said.

Bon Jovi went on to say: "But in fairness, why would I take away the livelihoods of not only the band, but the 120 guys in the crew? Or the millions of people that bought a ticket? What am I going to do? Shut it down because you don't want to go to rehab?"

Despite the difficult passage, Bon Jovi reiterated that there’s no bad blood between him and Sambora. The two even watched the first three episodes of Thank You, Goodnight together. Watching Sambora’s on-screen apology for the way in which he left the band was the first time Bon Jovi had seen him take responsibility for his actions.

"You read, you talk to professionals, you sit with yourself, you learn to understand from a different perspective that his choices weren't made out of animosity either," Bon Jovi told ET.

All four parts of Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story will debut on Hulu and Disney+ on April 26. Bon Jovi’s also gearing up for the release of their 16th studio album, Forever, which debuts June 7.