Valerie Bertinelli Fires Back at Online Critics Over Eddie Van Halen Tribute

Valerie Bertinelli, the Food Network personality, has publicly addressed criticism she received after posting a tribute to her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen. The 66-year-old shared a throwback photograph on Instagram marking the anniversary of the rock guitarist's death in October 2020.

Bertinelli posted a snapshot of the couple in a car with a caption that read, "Photos may fade, like old photos do, but not the memories and never the love." However, she later posted a video addressing what she described as a "furious tirade" of backlash.

"It does not take long for me to get a lot of pushback when I post a picture of me and Ed," Bertinelli stated in the video. "It used to really bother me. It does not, not any longer." She characterized the negative comments as "coercive control," suggesting that while critics might not explicitly forbid her from loving her ex-husband, they attempt to make her feel "crazy" until she stops expressing her feelings.

She noted that some commenters have accused her of being "obsessed" with Van Halen, whom she divorced in 2007, and used other "fked up st" until she takes down posts. Bertinelli called this criticism "insidious" and "soul-breaking," asserting, "I learned a lot and you can't tell me how I feel. Nobody can tell you how you feel."

Bertinelli defiantly declared that she still holds "a lot of love" for Van Halen, concluding, "You can't bother me. I love Ed, I'll never stop loving Ed. And my heart loves a lot. Don't you wish yours could too?" She captioned the video, "Strap in haters, let's go for a little ride."

Bertinelli, then 20, married Van Halen, who was 27, in 1981. While their early years were marked by affection, Van Halen's struggles with substance abuse and infidelity reportedly strained the marriage. Bertinelli has previously spoken about her own past use of cocaine during their marriage, noting it was "everywhere, and easy to get." She described their marital relationship in later years as devoid of elements that make one "feel loved and wanted and cared for."

The couple had a son, Wolfgang, born in 1991, before their divorce in 2007. Van Halen died in October 2020 at the age of 65. Following his death, Bertinelli has spoken about a shift in her perspective regarding their shared past, acknowledging that despite their marital difficulties, they created a son "that we both unconditionally loved."