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Valerie Bertinelli’s recent live TV appearance on “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” took an unexpected turn when the actress accidentally let a couple of expletives slip while discussing her comeback to acting after a decade-long hiatus.
During the interview, Bertinelli, 66, was passionately talking about her role in the Lifetime movie “Love, Again,” portraying a woman coping with her husband’s early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her enthusiasm led to an unintentional on-air slip-up.
“I just identified with her wholeheartedly,” Bertinelli said, before apologizing mid-sentence for using strong language. She explained, “No matter what I’m going through, I put on a happy face so I don’t bring my stuff to other people.”
The hosts, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, reassured her, saying, “We’re just chatting with girlfriends. It comes out.”
The conversation then shifted to Bertinelli’s personal life, where she candidly shared her feelings about love and independence. “I haven’t had a partner in over a decade… I do miss that, but then there’s another part that’s so independent, and I can do everything on my own, so leave me the f— alone,” she joked, quickly realizing her second slip-up.
Bush Hager lightheartedly pointed out the second curse, prompting Bertinelli to laugh and say, “Geez Louise! I’ll never be invited back again.”
She attributed her candidness to what she called “the 66-year-old disease,” where she simply doesn’t care what comes out of her mouth. “I apologize to everybody out there,” she added with a smile.
Bertinelli’s personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. She was married to rock legend Eddie Van Halen for two decades, from 1981 until their separation in 2001, with their divorce finalized in 2007.
Together, they had one son, Wolfgang, born in 1991. Later, she married Tom Vitale in 2011 after dating him for eight years.
They separated in 2021 and finalized their divorce the following year.
Reflecting on her divorces during an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Bertinelli shared a humorous anecdote about selling her wedding ring after her last divorce and celebrating with an “evil eye” bracelet.
Van Halen passed away in 2020 from throat cancer complications. Bertinelli honored his memory on social media, expressing gratitude that she and their son were able to be with him in his final moments.
Despite the live TV slip-ups, Bertinelli’s openness and warmth continue to resonate with fans as she navigates her return to acting and life’s challenges with honesty and humor.