U.S.ASK BBN
Christina Applegate Says Her MS Was Misdiagnosed
The actress was told by a doctor that she does not have the condition she was diagnosed with in twenty twenty-one, The New York Times reports.
Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN After Hours at 2:22 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “Christina Applegate Says Her MS Was Misdiagnosed”.
- Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 2:22 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Dr. Nina Byte and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: Christina Applegate.
- BBN covered this story before: Applegate says new technology revealed MS misdiagnosis; Trump… (October 20).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York TimesChristina Applegate Says Her MS Was Misdiagnosed
What BBN said about it

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorRight, so what actually happened with Christina Applegate?

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe actress was given a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in twenty twenty-one.

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentShe now says a doctor has told her she doesn't have it after all, according to The New York Times.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorDoes this change anything for me? I'm asking for a friend who owns a lot of second opinions.

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNot directly. It's one woman's experience, and a doctor reversing a diagnosis is exactly why second opinions exist.

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIf you have a diagnosis you're unsure about, you ask your own doctor.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo who checks the check?

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentOther doctors do, and that's apparently how this came to light.

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAnd what happens next is up to her and her care team, and she has the right to say as much or as little as she likes.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHonestly, that's the most sensible thing anyone has said about a diagnosis all week.

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentFinally, a sensible use of one.
More Shorts
All videos →The story so far
- Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS · Variety
- Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS · E! News
- Applegate misdiagnosis, Meta's Muse, Indonesia ferry fire · E! News
- MS misdiagnosis, a card heist and Senate ad fights · New York Post
- Applegate says new technology revealed MS misdiagnosis; Trump… · CBS News
- Christina Applegate Says Her MS Was Misdiagnosed (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months


Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: LasVegasGuy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
