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Valerie Bertinelli Feels ‘Free’ This New Year After Divorce From Tom Vitale | “So Much Happier Than Last Year’s”
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Valerie Bertinelli Feels ‘Free’ This New Year After Divorce From Tom Vitale | “So Much Happier Than Last Year’s”

"There is so much to look forward to now, when before it just looked endlessly sad, scary, lonely and stressful," Valerie Bertinelli said.

Cover Image Source: Getty Images/Dave Kotinsky / Stringer

Valerie Bertinelli called her memoir, Enough Already, and spoke of "loving who I am today" and that has been her life mantra, per New York Times. She is also embracing 2023 with the same spirit. The Food Network star, 62, admitted that she had a tough 2022, which included her divorce from Tom Vitale. However, she is looking at this phase of her life optimistically. "This New Year's Day is coming in so much happier than last year's," she wrote in an Instagram post, which featured a clip of her smiling and twirling to Taylor Swift's Clean.



 

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She continued, "From a young age, New Year's Day has been one of my absolute favorite days, for the last 5-6 years it's been one of the saddest. No more. There is so much to look forward to now, when before it just looked endlessly sad, scary, lonely and stressful. I have no idea what's ahead for me and I'm not worried. I'm free. This new years day, 2023, is the first day of the rest of my life!" She concluded the post with, "I wish all of you every bit of joy and happiness and kindness that you claim. It's all yours. Grab it! Happy New Year. Love you."

In November, the Hot in Cleveland actress shared on Twitter that she was celebrating the "second best day of my life," when she became officially divorced from Vitale. The actress had filed for divorce in May, six months after filing for legal separation in November 2021. In a candid clip, Bertinelli, who was at an airport on the way to see her son, 31-year-old musician Wolfgang Van Halen, revealed, "My lawyer just called. The papers are all signed. They're about to be filed." She added, "On 11/22/22, I am officially f****** divorced. Happily divorced. Finally. It's finally over."

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In documents filed in July and obtained by TODAY, Vitale’s lawyers argued about the validity of the prenuptial agreement and asked to receive $50,000 a month in spousal support. The two got married on New Year's Day in 2011, after beginning a relationship in 2004. The One Day at a Time actress agreed to pay her ex-husband $2.2 million as part of their divorce proceedings, Page Six reported in November. The massive sum is an addition to the $500,000 she already transferred to him on May 24, 2022.

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Recently, she also expressed her gratitude for the support she had received from her loved ones. She posted on Instagram and wrote, "Merry Christmas, everyone!  As we end another year, I cannot help but feel grateful for the love and support of my family and loved ones. There's nothing quite like spending time with the people who matter most, and I hope you all can do the same this holiday season."



 

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Last year also had moments of happiness for Bertinelli, as her Grammy-nominated musician son, whom she shares with the late Eddie Van Halen, announced that he and his girlfriend of more than six years were engaged. The musician posted a picture with his fiancée on Instagram and wrote, "She said yes!!" Shortly after several people congratulated the couple in the comments section,  Bertinelli also commented, "How do I ❤️ this a million times? So happy."



 

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Valerie Bertinelli is living her life authentically and is celebrating each important moment as a new chapter of her life!

References:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/books/review/enough-already-valerie-bertinelli.html

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/valerie-bertinelli-tom-vitale-officially-divorced-rcna58498

https://pagesix.com/2023/01/03/valerie-bertinelli-says-shes-free-on-first-new-years-day-since-tom-vitale-divorce/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cm4Iem6DFUH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://twitter.com/Wolfiesmom/status/1595231238268375040?s=20&t=vgl1E7MZ5pGJmHi9n9ER6g

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cml9eXprcTD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfrbioLpWpt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cover Image Source: Getty Images/Dave Kotinsky / Stringer