What We Know About Valerie Bertinelli's Split From Husband Tom Vitale

Just before the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday, TMZ reported that Valerie Bertinelli had filed for legal separation from Tom Vitale, her husband of more than 10 years from her second marriage. Bertinelli has long been a television fixture, portraying both fictional characters on shows like "Hot In Cleveland," and herself, such as in her current roles on Food Network's "Valerie's Home Cooking" and "Kids Baking Championship" (via IMDb). While Bertinelli shines in front of the camera, Vitale works as an account manager at a content-creation company called Orange Comet, per Newsday. According to reports, the couple is separating for irreconcilable differences, but the exact details leading to their split were not disclosed at the time.

Prior to their wedding in 2010, Bertinelli spoke to AARP about the pair's relationship and what drew them together. They were introduced by Bertinelli's brother and bonded over their similar Italian family backgrounds. "He's teaching me to love myself just as I am," Bertinelli said. Although their marriage bond might have fractured over irreconcilable differences, the impending split might be without animosity. According to the filed divorce paperwork obtained by Entertainment Tonight, Bertinelli requested that the couple's prenuptial agreement terms be honored and that neither party be awarded spousal support.

After the legal separation documents were filed to dissolve Valerie Bertinelli and Tom Vitale's marriage, it was time for Bertinelli to say, "Enough," to the painful chapters in her life. At the beginning of 2021, Bertinelli spoke to Today about the grieving process of losing Eddie Van Halen, her former husband and the father of her son, Wolfgang, to lung cancer. Calling the experience "rough" and "bittersweet," she said she has found ways to push forward and carry on in a new light.

Friends of Bertinelli have previously commented on her emotional strength amid her first divorce and body-image struggles. In an AARP interview, Rachael Ray called her close friend a "very strong woman" who "pulled herself up from a tough place and came back swinging." While that personal strength is important, Bertinelli has also discussed her desire to focus on positive affirmations. In the same interview, she said, "I believe that I'm worth having a beautiful, blessed life. Every day, I thank God for it." At the end of her marriage to Vitale, it was a good time to let go of the past and welcome new beginnings.

As the calendar turned to 2022, Bertinelli looked at new beginnings. While she started the year by legally separating from her husband, there were also new projects for the talented television personality and author. In addition to "Kids Baking Championship" Season 10, which had her returning to the judges' table with Duff Goldman, Bertinelli released her new book, "Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today." 

Bertinelli described the writing in the book as personal and intimate. Many of its topics might be relatable to others, as it's about "letting go of the mindset that made [Bertinelli] feel broken and always trying to fix something about" herself. In October of 2021, she took to Instagram to share a tear-filled video snippet of herself recording the audio version of the book, which gives us a peek at the raw emotion she put into it. "Enough Already" showed fans that she is willing to dive deep into personal topics that have had a tremendous impact on the person she is today. 

During a video promotion on TalkShopLive for the then-upcoming release of her new book, "Enough Already," Valerie Bertinelli candidly answered a fan's question about her separation from Tom Vitale. Up to that point, Bertinelli had refrained from commenting on the personal situation. It seemed that during this video chat, she felt comfortable enough, or at least, obligated to answer the question.

Bertinelli shared that she was going through a separation from her then-husband. While she admitted that they were "working on it," the more telling statement was that she still loves him and he loves her, but love alone was not enough for a successful marriage. Although she admitted that they had "been through some challenges in the last four, five years," she did not elaborate. Still, she said that she does not know what makes a marriage work. That vulnerability may be a part of the reason many people find her so engaging.

The early 2020s were a challenging time for Bertinilli, as she mourned the loss of her first husband, Eddie Van Halen, and lost her friend Betty White. Top it off with a separation from husband Tom Vitale, perhaps she had enough, which sparked some vulnerability.

According to People in 2022, Valerie let all her feelings out. As many people looked forward to turning the pages of her new book, "Enough Already," the actor shared some pivotal changes that gave her a new outlook. She recalled some painful childhood memories, sharing, "I watched my father treat my mother badly when she would gain weight," and shared how the scale played a tremendous part in her life. 

She is still struggling today and telling the world about it. In an Instagram post from December 2022, Bertinelli shared a vulnerable video of herself, standing outside in the rain. She said, "I'm standing out in the rain because I'm doing my best to distract my mind from spiraling to a place of self-loathing because I saw a picture of myself today that made me want to do that."

It's unclear whether or not the self-shaming, painful dieting history, and body image struggles had any effect on her relationships. We hope new opportunities for the Food Network Star and better times lie ahead.