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Piven Went Mono Before Going to Mercury

Posted Dec 19th 2008 5:00AM by TMZ Staff

Before Jeremy Piven ditched his Broadway show due to sushi-related mercury poisoning, producers say the actor was worried he was suffering from mononucleosis -- the dreaded kissing disease.

The show's producer tells TMZ Piven had complained of illnesses from the beginning of the show's run in October. First, says the producer, Piven reported "low-level mono." After that, Piven told producers he was worried he might have Epstein-Barr virus. The final diagnosis, as his doctor stated publicly, was mercury poisoning from a two-a-day raw fish habit.

We contacted Jeremy's people for comment; haven't heard back yet.

UPDATE: We spoke to Piv's doctor Carlon Colker, and he says he's not aware of any mono issue, but did confirm Piven was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr.

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1. Yawn........

Posted at 2:50AM on Dec 19th 2008 by lelipstique@AOL.com

2. first, bitches! mercury poisoning... something smells fishy...

Posted at 2:54AM on Dec 19th 2008 by H

3. Why is it that most stories have douchebags that say first , but are either second or third? And the person that is actually first doesn't even notice??

Posted at 1:32PM on Dec 19th 2008 by sherry

4. Definitely a classic case of Uro-mita-tisis.

Posted at 3:29AM on Dec 19th 2008 by moveover00

5. I think this another case where Pivin the actor believes he's the HBO Entourage character Ari Gold.
Case in point James Gandolfini - Tony Soprano's beating up a photographer at the JFK
The reality of 8 shows a week, including the Sunday Matinée, was too much for Pivins Ego.

Posted at 3:37AM on Dec 19th 2008 by CMan00

6. If I was Jeremy Piven, I would feel really embarressed... How could he eat so much raw fish each day?? Ugh.. I think he needs to take a college course in Nutrition... He should be very glad eating all that raw fish didn't cause his death... I hate sushi, by the way.. Ugh.. Ewwwww....

Posted at 4:37AM on Dec 19th 2008 by Judith

7. Sounds like someone came down with a case of the douche bag. Go sell your crazy to Lohan and that mannish girl she hangs around with.

Posted at 4:40AM on Dec 19th 2008 by God of Hell Fire

8. His disease is alcoholism. He's been seen closing half the bars here in NYC every night. Can't do eight shows a week and abuse your body like that. What he realized is that he can't abuse his alcohol and work that schedule -- so he quit the show. Plain and simple.

Broadway career done.

Posted at 8:51AM on Dec 19th 2008 by Shea

9. FYI mono IS an EBV infection...duh.

Posted at 9:40AM on Dec 19th 2008 by borednycdoc

10. Epstein-Barr is a herpes virus hahahahaha Piven's got the Herp!

Posted at 9:58AM on Dec 19th 2008 by Che Li

11. Number 8 is right. He needs a pick me up to keep going!!

Posted at 10:04AM on Dec 19th 2008 by Have Meth Lab Will Travel

12. Is his doctor a complete idiot, or even really a doctor? Mono is caused by the Epstein Bar Virus.

Posted at 10:20AM on Dec 19th 2008 by Nikki

13. The good news, he can take your temperature when he sticks his di*k in your mouth.

Posted at 10:39AM on Dec 19th 2008 by Luke Warmwater

14. Wow, kinda scary to realize the levels of mecury the oceans!! Get well soon JP!!!