Valerie Bertinelli is pushing back against online critics who accuse her of being "obsessed" with her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen. In a recent Instagram post, the 66-year-old actress addressed the negative comments she receives when sharing photos of Van Halen. She stated that while the criticism used to bother her, she no longer lets it affect her.
Bertinelli explained that trolls rarely use the explicit words "you are not allowed to love your ex-husband," but instead berate her for months until she feels pressured to say she does not love him. She noted that whenever she posts images from what she called "better days" with Van Halen and their son, Wolfgang, critics claim she is obsessed and use harsh language until she removes the picture.
The actress described these comments as "soul-breaking" but said she has learned that internet trolls cannot dictate how she feels. She emphasized that her heart holds a significant space dedicated to Ed, and if she falls in love again, she will make room for a new partner without diminishing her love for Ed, her son, or other family members. She affirmed that she loves Van Halen and never stopped loving him because her heart loves a lot.
This statement followed an Instagram post Bertinelli shared one day prior, featuring an old photo of herself and Van Halen. She captioned that post to honor the sixth anniversary of his death, writing that while photos may fade, memories and love remain. Fans supported Bertinelli in the comments section of her video, with one user noting that Ed is the father of her child and that divorce does not necessarily mean one stops loving an ex.
Eddie Van Halen passed away in October 2020 at age 65 after suffering a stroke. Before his death, he had spent six years fighting throat cancer. Bertinelli and Van Halen were married from 1981 to 2007 and welcomed one child together, a son named Wolfgang, who is now 35. Since her split from Van Halen, Bertinelli married Tom Vitale, and they were married from 2011 to 2021.