Nearly two years after the end of her “toxic” marriage to businessman Tom Vitale, Valerie Bertinelli spoke Tuesday about “learning to trust again” in her new relationship with writer Mike Goodnough.
“So, starting at the end of 2022, I really began my journey of recovery,” the former Food Network star, 64, said on Instagram about the finalization of her divorce. “I wanted my life to be different and I wanted to be a whole, emotionally healthy person. Vulnerability and authenticity were two things I really worked hard for and thought I had achieved and overcome most of my demons.”
“I’m in love,” Bertinelli captioned a photo of Goodnough, who she began dating earlier this year. “I was so determined to never fall in love again that I’m feeling all emotional.”
“I’ve heard that when you stay in a relationship after recovering from a toxic one, it brings up some triggers that you didn’t know were buried,” the “One Day at a Time” star said, “and that’s true.”
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Valerie Bertinelli and Mike Goodnough began dating earlier this year. (Rodan Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Bertinelli has previously called Vitale a “narcissist” and said he didn’t know why he put up with the “intolerable” things he did to Vitale for so long.
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Before their divorce was finalized in 2022, Bertinelli told Hoda Kotb , “I can’t imagine trusting someone else into my life again, so I have some trust issues that I need to get over,” adding that she’d be “happy” to spend the rest of her life alone.
Following the divorce, she wrote on Instagram: “I’ve been yelled at so many times, called fat and lazy. I realise that it was just someone projecting onto me what they wanted to project onto me, but it’s my fault for believing it and I don’t believe it anymore. But that doesn’t stop the emotions from building up and hurting.”
Valerie Bertinelli dating new boyfriend after dramatic divorce from ex-husband Tom Vitale
Valerie Bertinelli and Tom Vitale finalized their divorce in November 2022. (Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
“Learning to trust again after trust has been destroyed is not easy,” says the author of the cookbook “Indulge.” “The devil wants to protect you from being vulnerable and showing your emotions again.”
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But she said of Goodnuff, “It’s worth fighting any remaining demons I have. He is the most thoughtful, kind, gentle, intelligent, funny and grateful person I’ve ever met.”
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She also joked about his good looks, adding, “And look at him,” with a heart emoji. “I mean…”
Bertinelli and Goodnough first met when they began messaging each other on Instagram a few years before they began dating.
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Bertinelli was also married to musician Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007. He passed away in 2020.
