‘I’m in Love’: Valerie Bertinelli, 63, Details Her New Romance with ‘Special’ Man She Met Online

Valerie Bertinelli recently confessed that her personal life has taken an unexpected turn for the better. This confession comes on the heels of a period of significant personal transformation and growth for Bertinelli, a renowned TV star and cookbook author.

Following the end of her marriage to her second husband, a dedicated journey towards self-acceptance, a return to her culinary roots with the release of a new cookbook titled “Indulge,” and the mourning of her first husband, Eddie Van Halen, Bertinelli has found love in a place she least expected.

“I’m in love. It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again. I was supposed to die with my six cats and my dog,” Bertinelli says, laughter lightening her confession. “And very happily live the rest of my years alone—I’m good alone.”

Yet, life had something other than cats and dogs in mind. Despite her not being ready to disclose the identity of the man who has captured her heart, Bertinelli shares enough to paint a picture of newfound happiness and a belly full of butterflies with her “special” man.

“My belly is flip-flopping. This was not supposed to happen,” she admits, hinting at the unexpected twist her life has taken, but she admitted it “feels incredibly right.” The journey to this unexpected romance was not a short one.

Bertinelli emphasizes the long and often challenging path to learning to love herself again, a crucial step before she could open her heart to someone new. “I want to be clear that this process has taken a long time,” she asserts.

Following her 2022 divorce from Tom Vitale and the loss of Eddie Van Halen in 2020, Bertinelli embarked on a healing journey involving therapy, introspection, and a lot of walks with her dog, Luna.

Her cookbook, “Indulge,” emerged as a byproduct of this emotional and mental healing. It represents not just her passion for cooking but also her pathway through grief, self-doubt, and ultimately, self-love.

Through her favorite recipes and intimate vignettes, Bertinelli tells a story of personal growth, a testament to her belief in the transformative power of facing one’s emotions head-on.

The turning point in Bertinelli’s journey came when she connected with a man on Instagram, initially forming a platonic relationship. This East Coast writer, whose identity remains a mystery, gradually became a significant figure in her life.

“It was strictly platonic, but there was something about him that I connected with that felt familiar,” Bertinelli explains of the connection she formed.

Their relationship evolved over time, moving from friendly chats to something much deeper and more romantic. “It’s crazy the comfort level,” she says, reflecting on how naturally their relationship progressed.

This new chapter in Bertinelli’s life is not just about finding love; it’s about rediscovering joy and allowing herself to embrace happiness fully. “I found joy first,” she says, indicating the importance of inner peace and happiness as the foundation for any relationship.

Her emotional journey through divorce and self-discovery has been both public and poignant. Bertinelli has been open about the pain of her separation from Vitale, sharing her feelings and healing process with her followers.

In an emotional video that she posted online, she delved into the aftermath of her divorce, shedding light on the painful yet cathartic release she experiences through various forms of therapy.

“It’s so painful, but there’s a release that happens that’s really helpful,” Bertinelli explained. Her approach to healing is holistic, incorporating therapy, journaling, meditation, and physical therapies like rolfing, all aimed at addressing the emotional pain stored in her body.

“I am over it. I’m over the narcissist. I’m long over the narcissist,” she declared, emphasizing her journey toward self-discovery and empowerment.

This period of introspection led Bertinelli to a significant realization about her tolerance for what was intolerable, sparking a transformation in how she views herself and her worth.

Bertinelli filed for divorce in May 2022, citing irreconcilable differences nine years after they married. The pair had already separated in December 2019. They filed for legal separation in late 2021, and had a prenuptial agreement at the time of their divorce.

The final divorce settlement saw Bertinelli pay Vitale $2.2 million, with neither of the pair obligated to pay spousal support to the other. Shortly after the papers were signed, Bertinelli declared herself “happily divorced.”

As she continues in her journey, her focus is figuring out what made her “tolerate the intolerable.” Her candidness extends beyond personal healing to address the broader issue of emotional abuse in relationships, advocating for self-worth and the right to a joyful life.

Bertinelli’s revalation that she is in love with her mystery man comes after we previously reported that she had met someone new and unexpected.

In a revelation that’s as heartwarming as it is unexpected, TV icon Valerie Bertinelli, 63, opened up about finding love anew, proving that happiness can strike when least anticipated. Amidst the promotional whirlwind for her upcoming cookbook, “Indulge,” Valerie told a news outlet that she has found new joy in a relationship that’s markedly different from any she’s experienced before.

“I’ve met someone. And I’m incredibly grateful for him,” she expressed, a sentiment that not only highlighted the novelty of this chapter in her life but also the profound appreciation she harbors for this “very special” man. “I wasn’t expecting it! He was not on my radar.” Bertinelli exclaimed, detailing how this relationship blindsided her—a delightful surprise against her once believed to be resigned fate alongside her six cats and dog.

This news comes after Bertinelli’s divorce from Tom Vitale in 2022, ending nearly 11 years of marriage. As a juxtaposition to the end of her previous relationship, Bertinelli’s recent romantic revelation offers a glimmer of optimism, especially to those who may feel their opportunities for love and happiness are behind them.

On this, she underscored the transformative power of self-reflection and growth and advised, “I really want women and men to take away that it’s the work that you do (on yourself) that can lead you to meeting someone like I’ve been lucky enough to meet right now.”

The “One Day at a Time” star’s candor regarding her new relationship extended to social media, where she humorously acknowledged her newfound happiness conflicting with her past declaration of remaining single. A recent TikTok repost showcased Bertinelli mouthing a resolute “Yeah, […] no,” to the idea of dating again, with the addition of a cheeky caption that read, “This didn’t age well 🤪🥰.”

In addition to TikTok, Valerie Bertinelli took to Instagram to highlight the happy space she finds herself in currently. Yesterday, she shared a radiant photo of herself in a cream-colored blazer with a heartfelt caption that expressed her joy and gratitude toward her followers for their unwavering support through her transformative journey.

“Thank you all for staying on this ride with me. Sticking with me through the tears to get to the joy on the other side. XO ♥️🥰,” she lovingly expressed.

From past and present revelations, Bertinelli’s story paints a narrative of self-discovery, growth, and renewed love. It’s a reminder that happiness can emerge from the least expected places, encouraging us all to remain open to the possibilities that life holds.

Bertinelli’s new relationship has come at a time when she has done a multitude of inner-work to reach a place where she no longer feels she has to guard her heart. We have previously reported on the hardships she faced during her relationship with Vitale.

Child star and Food Network icon Valerie Bertinelli recently opened up about trauma she experienced in the past. She shared how she was mistreated and how she endured emotional abuse from her previous husband, Tom Vitale.

Bertinelli filed for divorce from Vitale in 2022, only a few months after filing for legal separation. She mentioned that the day of the divorce was one of the best days of her life, and she later opened up about emotional abuse in relationships. She spoke frankly about her own situation with Vitale, sharing her thoughts on abuse.

On Wednesday, February 1, 2023, Bertinelli shared a clip on Instagram of herself lip-syncing over an audio clip. In the video, Bertinelli asked herself why she let her ex stay after “finding the texts.” She responds to her own question, saying, “I don’t know.”

She revealed the nature of the “texts,” saying her ex often called her “fat” and criticized her figure.

The clip and the caption stem from Bertinelli finding derogatory texts about her on her ex-husband’s phone. The TV personality opened up about the texts, saying he often wrote demeaning things about her, and even after she found them, she stayed with him. Now, she finally realized it was time to move on.

Valerie Bertinelli Shared Her Pain in Instagram Video

The Instagram video of Bertinelli questioning herself on why she allowed her ex to remain in her life signified a turn for the TV chef. She has opened up about her recovery after separating from and divorcing Vitale. She shared her healing methods, saying she finds therapy extremely helpful.

In January 2022, Bertinelli wrote a book on self-acceptance called “Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today.”

She revealed the nature of the “texts,” saying her ex often called her “fat” and criticized her figure. She also mentioned how he would project his own insecurities onto her but admitted she willingly stepped into that role. Now, she has decided to focus on what she needs.

After posting the Instagram video, followers responded with mixed reactions. Many supported her and praised her for standing up for herself and moving on. One user said they thought her ex was nice but realized, “I was really wrong!” Another user remarked, “You need to say out loud what happened and what he did.”

Another user encouraged her to move on and insisted, “you’re better than that.” However, not everyone was as thrilled about her coming to terms with her trauma. Another user commented, “always having problems. Go get help.”