Let me tell you a story about Valerie Bertinelli. You know her, right? The beloved star of One Day at a Time and Hot in Cleveland? Well, she's back in the spotlight for reasons that are both exciting and a little concerning. An insider exclusively dished to Closer that Valerie has a new boyfriend—but not everyone is thrilled about it. In fact, some of her closest friends are worried she might be heading straight for heartbreak.
Here's the scoop: Valerie met this mystery guy online a few years ago. She hasn't shared his name yet, but word on the street is that her friends aren't exactly jumping for joy. "Some of her friends are rightfully concerned that the mystery guy may be after her money or fame," the source told us. Now, let's face it—Valerie's no stranger to love and loss, so her inner circle is naturally cautious.
A Life in the Spotlight
At 63, Valerie has lived a life full of ups and downs, especially when it comes to love. She's been married and divorced twice, and both breakups were anything but easy. Her first marriage was to the late Eddie Van Halen, a rock legend who swept her off her feet in 1981. Together, they had a beautiful son, Wolfgang Van Halen, born in 1991. But after 26 years of marriage, they called it quits in 2007. It wasn't easy, but Valerie handled it with grace.
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Fast forward to her second marriage, to financial planner Tom Vitale. They were together for a decade before things went south. In 2021, Valerie filed for legal separation, and six months later, she officially filed for divorce. The split wasn't pretty, but Valerie came out on the other side with a new perspective on life. During an appearance on Today in June 2022, she opened up about her decision to embrace singledom. "I am gonna be more than happy to be happily divorced and spend the rest of my life alone," she told host Hoda Kotb. "I'll be happy that way—with my six cats, my dog, my son, and hopefully one day grandchildren."
Wolf's Concerns
Valerie's son, Wolf, has been a rock for her through all of life's challenges. So, it's no surprise that he's keeping a close eye on her new relationship. According to the insider, Wolf has met the mystery man and isn't entirely convinced. "Even her son, Wolf, who I’ve heard has met the guy, told her to slow down with this guy," the source revealed. As any parent knows, your kids always want what's best for you—and it seems Wolf is no exception.
The New Chapter
Despite the concerns from those around her, Valerie seems genuinely happy about this new chapter in her life. She recently opened up to People about her feelings, saying, "I’m in love. It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again." Her boyfriend is a writer based on the East Coast, and while she hasn't revealed much about him yet, she says their relationship "feels incredibly right." For someone who's been through so much, finding love again must feel like a miracle.
Valerie and Tom's divorce was finalized in November 2022, just two months after she announced on Instagram that she had sold the rings and shoes she wore to their wedding. In a video posted on X, she shared her excitement with her fans. "I’m at the airport, about to go see Wolfie and my lawyer just called," she said. "The papers are all signed, they’re about to be filed on 11/22/22. I am officially f–king divorced. Happily, divorced. God finally, it’s finally over."
Initially, Valerie said she wasn't planning to date again after her "ugly" split from Tom. But love works in mysterious ways, and she couldn't resist the pull of her new beau. "I’m in love," she confessed to People. "It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again." For Valerie, this relationship feels different—like the kind of love that comes along once in a lifetime.
