Food Network Star Valerie Bertinelli Addresses Fan Telling Her To Lose Weight

Food Network star Valerie Bertinelli took to Instagram to address a comment she happened upon on one of her social media accounts. A user had made a remark concerning the television personality’s weight, saying that she needed to lose weight. Bertinelli’s tearful response video drew support from fans and celebrities alike.

She captioned the post:

“(exhales…) 🙏🏼

aren’t we tired of body shaming women yet?! smh.
I was going to delete my stories because it’s a little embarrassing and scary to be so vulnerable. But then I realized it was hitting a ‘good’ nerve with so many of you who were so sweet to dm and share your same vulnerability and struggles. We all could use a little more kindness and patience and grace, because we just never know what someone else is going through.
So here it is. Not deleting. Owning it. ♥️
#compassion”

In the video, addressed her weight gain directly, adding sarcastically, “Because see, I don’t have a scale or I don’t have clothes that I’m trying to put on every day, and I don’t have mirrors so I don’t see what’s become of me. So I needed that help to let me know that I need to lose weight.”

She continued, adding, “You’re not being helpful. Because when you see somebody who has put some weight on, my first thought is, ‘That person is obviously going through some things.'”

Bertinelli has certainly had difficulties in the past year with the death of her ex-husband Eddie Van Halen, whom she was married to from 1981 to 2007 and shares 30-year-old son Wolfgang with, as a result of throat cancer.

At the end of her post, Bertinelli added that she’s been trying to lose weight and keep it off. “But since I haven’t been successful with that my whole entire life — at 61, I’m still dealing with [it]. You think I’m not tired of it, lady?” she asked. “Not f–king helpful.”

Bertinelli’s supporters and fans have offered her kind messages in the wake of her tearful Instagram stories. At the beginning of her video, she thanked them, saying, “Thank you. There’s so much kindness out there. I certainly do not feel so alone anymore. It’s the shame part that’s really hard to get rid of. That stupid emotion that is absolutely useless.”