Valerie Bertinelli is a two times Emmy-winning veteran actress, TV personality, and show presenter. She currently hosts shows such as Valerie’s Home Cooking and Kids Baking Championship on the American TV channel, Food Network.
Lately, Valerie has become a constant topic of discussion on TV and online media sources because of troubles in her marital relationship. Reportedly, the actress has filed for a legal separation from her husband of over a decade, Tom Vitale citing irreconcilable differences.
So, what really happened between Valerie Bertinelli and her husband Tom Vitale? Why did Valerie file for divorce? Are they divorced yet? Find answers to all of these and also get a detailed insight into Valerie’s love life, wedding, and married life.
Valerie Bertinelli has been Married to Tom Vitale Since 2011.
Valerie and Tom Vitale have known each other for almost 18 years, 12 of which they were married. The actress first met Tom in 2004 through her younger brother Patrick Bertinelli.
At the time of their first meeting, both of them had recently been through a separation from their first spouse. In 2010, Valerie and Tom talked about their first meeting and the beginning of their love journey with AARP The Magazine.
In the interview, Valerie revealed that her brother Patrick introduced her to his friend Tom at their parents’ place in Arizona. “Val and I were coming from a tough time and wanting to move on but didn’t want to trust anyone,” Tom said remembering how he felt about meeting her.
Beginning from there, the pair dated for almost six years before Tom Vitale proposed to her in March 2010 in Italy. Although they had previously discussed about getting married, the event still surprised her.
In the same interview with AARP, Valerie said, “We’d talked about getting married, but I was still shocked. It was sweet when he asked me because he was so scared. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’”
Although there was still time for their marriage, the pair thoroughly enjoyed their pre-marriage phase and went on several pre-honeymoon trips. One of her friends told People Magazine that Valerie was her happiest self when she was with Tom Vitale.
The couple together planned their married life instead of planning their wedding ceremony. When asked about it Valerie told People that both of them previously had a good wedding ceremony with their first spouses and now they only wanted a good and happy marriage.
Nine months after being engaged, Valerie married Tom on 1 January 2011. The pair had pre-planned a small marriage in Italy with only two of them and a witness.
However, a few days before the special day, they both had a change of heart and married in front of around 100 guests at their home in Malibu, California. The attendees of the ceremony include several well-known names such as Pat Harrington, Mackenzie Phillips, etc.
In addition, Valerie’s ex-husband Van Halen also attended the marriage. Valerie openly discussed her married life with Tom Vitale during interviews and media appearances.
Talking with Good Housekeeping in February 2011, she expressed how Tom makes her feel loved and adored. She said, “He unlocks a lot of the stuff I don’t have to hold on to anymore. I love him. I adore him.”
The celebrity pair together bought a home in 2018 where they lived with their five cats and a dog. Valerie also provided an exclusive tour of their house to the Food Network Magazine.
Valerie spent almost 10 years of happily married life with her second husband Tom before legally separating in November 2021.
Why is Valerie Bertinelli Getting a divorce?
Valerie Bertinelli and Tom Vitale’s separating was shocking news for the Food Network host’s fans. She frequently praised Tom in public and the media and seemed to be very much in with him.
However, more than a decade into the marriage, Valeries filed a petition for legal separation on 23 November 2021. In the petition, she cited the reason as ‘irreconcilable differences.’
Then again, in May 2022, Valerie amended her initial petition of legal separation to divorce. The former pair’s divorce case is still under proceedings and will probably go to a trial soon.
Although Valerie and Tom have not announced any solid reason for their separation, there are rumors that Valerie’s love feelings for her late ex-husband Edward Van Halen have caused trouble in their marriage.
The rumors apparently began when she mentioned Van Halen as her ‘soulmate’ in her memoir ‘Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I am Today’ in January 2022.
She also wrote in her memoir that Van Halen’s last words for her were, “I Love You.” However, Valerie has publicly invalidated the rumors in her recent interview with People.
She told the magazine that her feeling for her late ex-husband had no role in her separation from Tom Vitale. Further, she made it clear to People that she and Tom grew apart in distance after a decade together.
Valerie Bertinelli Sold Items that She had Worn During her Wedding to Tom Vitale
The recent sequence of events suggests the Food Network host is adequately moving on in her life after filing the divorce petition. She has started selling off her wedding items online.
Three days ago, i.e., on 14 September 2022, Valerie Instagrammed a picture of her wedding shoes and two diamond rings. Alongside it, she shared a status where she mentioned about putting up those items on sale in the online fashion store named The RealReal.
As per her Instagram post, Valerie has bad memories attached to her Tiffanny diamond rings. And about the shoes, she wore them at her wedding with Tom Vitale in January 2022.
