Richie Sambora Apologises for Jon Bon Jovi Throat Comment
Richie Sambora has moved to clarify and soften his recent remarks about Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal health, saying he apologised quickly and insists there is no lingering animosity between the former bandmates. The comments arrive amid renewed attention on the pair’s long-running split, more than a decade after Sambora’s sudden exit from Bon Jovi.
According to Rock Celebrities, Sambora said he had been “goin through a rough patch” and blamed his mood on family stress involving his mother, along with injuries and frustration over his recovery timeline, adding that he “apologized sincerely, the next day.”
Sambora did react to the band’s commercial failure without him.
I agree..completely. Now lets wait and see if i get slamed for saying that. Was ‘nt talkin bout the top 10 part. I would’nt know. I certainly thought that songwriting trio would give it a go again. https://t.co/uBsmyzzc9X
— RICHIE SAMBORA (@TheRealSambora) February 8, 2026
Sambora also attempted to correct the impression that his criticism reflected deeper hostility, writing, “I got no malice with Jon. Just goin in/ different directions,” while wishing the band and fans well. The guitarist’s statement follows backlash online from Bon Jovi fans who took issue with his earlier wording about the singer’s throat issues.
The latest explanation builds on his earlier apology, and comes as Alternative Nation has tracked the flare-up, including his initial attempt to walk back the insult after it spread on social media.
Sambora played in Bon Jovi from 1983 until 2013, helping shape the group’s biggest hits before leaving just ahead of a major tour. While both men have appeared separately in the 2024 docuseries “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” their public comments continue to suggest a relationship that remains distant.
For longtime fans, Sambora’s latest message reads like an effort to lower the temperature—acknowledging the misstep, emphasising his apology, and drawing a line between a bad moment and his broader history with the band.
