Even after years of secretly dating and working side-by-side on The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki admitted there was one ridiculous fight that made them briefly question everything. And yes… it involved tuna fish. Welcome to the unforgettable saga the cast lovingly calls “Tuna-Gate.”
A Smelly Situation: Johnny’s Tuna Diet Takes Over the Set
While filming the early seasons of The Big Bang Theory, Johnny was preparing for a theatre role that required him to stay extremely lean. His dietician’s solution?
A heavy, protein-packed tuna lunch. Every. Single. Day.
The problem?
The smell.
According to Kaley, it was “horrendous” — the kind of aroma that could clear a soundstage in seconds.
She begged him to eat it anywhere else… like maybe a different county.
Kaley Calls Reinforcements… Sort Of
Desperate, Kaley tried recruiting Jim Parsons to back her up. She expected sympathy.
She expected support.
She got… nothing.
Jim’s iconic response?
“I don’t care about it.”
A masterclass in Switzerland-level neutrality. 🇨🇭
But Kaley wasn’t giving up. The tuna fumes were too strong, too emotional, too… fishy. She kept pushing Johnny to vacate the stage and take his lunch (and its lingering aura) far, far away.
Johnny Snaps — The Relationship Hits a Stinky Turning Point
After enduring enough tuna shaming for one lifetime, Johnny finally snapped:
“Is that how you talk to me? I needed my food!”
And suddenly, this absurd argument over a can of fish felt… serious.
Both of them admitted later that for a moment, they wondered:
“Wait… is this an actual fight? Are we okay?”
Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when love meets low-calorie protein.
A Minor Fight That Became a Legendary BBT Story
Thankfully, “Tuna-Gate” didn’t break them — it bonded them.
Looking back more than a decade later, Kaley and Johnny laugh about how tiny and ridiculous the argument really was. Even so, it perfectly captured what made their relationship (and friendship) so strong:
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They worked together every day
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They supported each other through personal and professional challenges
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And even when a stinky tuna sandwich got between them,
they always found their way back to each other
In the end, “Tuna-Gate” became just another hilarious chapter in the behind-the-scenes history of The Big Bang Theory — a reminder that even the closest relationships can be tested… by a lunch box.
