David Faustino says Christina Applegate is still using her signature dry, sarcastic humor as she continues living with multiple sclerosis, even amid recent reports of hospitalization and flare-ups.
Christina Applegate has been battling multiple sclerosis for years, and even the people closest to her say the hardest part isn’t the diagnosis itself—it’s how life keeps moving while the body doesn’t.
David Faustino. who played her TV brother Bud Bundy on Married… With Children and remains a close friend. says she’s still making him laugh despite the ongoing struggle. “It’s extremely difficult for me to understand having a debilitating disease,” Faustino told Us Weekly on Tuesday. “I can’t. I don’t know what that’s like. I can only go from her experience and what she’s told me.”.
What stands out to him is that her humor hasn’t disappeared. Faustino says Applegate has always been honest with him about how hard it is to live with MS. after she was diagnosed in 2021. “I admire her being strong in the face of this, even though it’s been a real blow,” he said. “It’s been very hard for her, but she does keep her humor.”.
He points to her timing and her style—dry, sarcastic, familiar from the moment he met her. Applegate. who covers her MS journey on her “MeSsy” podcast. has long leaned on comedy as a way to get through the day. “She’s had a dry, sarcastic sense of humor since the moment I met her,” Faustino said. “Nothing has changed … She gets through this with some humor. and that’s kind of her way that she moves through it.”.
Faustino says he’s been by Applegate’s side throughout the five years since her diagnosis. describing himself as a steady presence on her team. “[I’m] a person on her team that gives her as much love as I can,” he told Us Weekly. “I do a lot of visits with her. A lot of texting, a lot of checking in. A lot of funny just crap that we talk about. And that’s all I can do, right?. Give her my love. We do have deep convos when we sit. But we also keep the laughter [going] as well.”.
Married… With Children may have ended in 1997, but the friendship didn’t. Faustino and Applegate first became known as siblings Bud Bundy and Kelly Bundy on the sitcom. which aired from 1987 to 1997 and starred Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal as their on-screen parents. Al and Peggy. Even after the series wrapped. Faustino says they’ve stayed close—so much so that both he and Sagal were present for Applegate’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in November 2022.
As Applegate continues to focus on her health—most recently addressing reports that she had been hospitalized during a flare-up—Faustino has continued to channel his energy into two things: showing up for her and keeping the fandom alive. Applegate wrote, “Thank you for the outpouring of love and well wishes. Health issues are a constant for me. but I’m a strong chick and I’m getting stronger and better every day. I’m taking a moment to focus on my health. but I’ll be back with more to say soon enough.”.
Faustino says he has also used his platform to raise awareness for MS research, regularly attending the annual Race to Erase MS Gala in Los Angeles. And while Applegate updates fans through her “MeSsy” podcast, Faustino has been busy with his latest project, the “Bundy Club.”
He cofounded the members-only podcast, which recently hosted a special live event with O’Neill as a guest. Faustino told Us Weekly. “Ed doesn’t really do many things like this.” He added that fans are excited not just for a conversation. but for a different angle on the cast: “The fans are super excited because now they’ll get to be in on a somewhat intimate conversation. but they’ll get to see us in a completely different light than they’ve really seen us before.”.
For Faustino, the message coming through from Applegate is consistent: she may be dealing with something constant and draining, but her humor—dry, sarcastic, and deeply her—still helps her move through it.
Christina Applegate David Faustino MS multiple sclerosis MeSsy podcast Married… With Children Bud Bundy Kelly Bundy Ed O'Neill Katey Sagal Hollywood Walk of Fame Bundy Club Race to Erase MS Gala
MS is no joke, but good for her for still making people laugh.
Wait she got hospitalized again? I swear every celeb with MS is “fine” for like a week then boom back in the hospital. Is this because of the podcast or what?
The article says dry humor helps and honestly that’s great but I don’t get it… if she’s having flare-ups wouldn’t sarcasm make it harder? Like pain + being funny doesn’t add up to me. Maybe she’s faking it for publicity? (not trying to be mean, just confused)
David Faustino saying she still has that “dry” humor like from TV… ok but MS still gonna MS. I heard flare-ups are triggered by stress and also by food or whatever, so maybe the hospitalization was from touring or something. Also she been talking about it since 2021 right? Seems like forever and I can’t tell if she’s doing better or just more famous for it now.