Celebrities Rally Around Valerie Bertinelli After Her Emotional Instagram About Body Shaming
When Valerie Bertinelli received a particularly damaging comment from a viewer, she decided to address it head on.
The 61-year-old Food Network host's emotions came to surface in an Instagram video late Thursday after she encountered some unsolicited advice: "Someone… decided to point out that I needed to lose weight," she shared while tearing up.
"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," she added, addressing the camera directly. "So I needed that help to let me know that I need to lose weight."
Valerie continued:"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.'"
Her video has since resonated with many viewers and fans, who have responded with thousands of encouraging comments.
This is not the first time that Valerie has taken time to address body shaming and the vitriol she's received on her own image throughout her career. The former Hot in Cleveland and One Day at a Time star has responded directly on Twitter to body-shaming comments frequently. "Thank you for reminding me I'm so much more than my body," she memorably shared in early 2020 in response to a comment that labeled her "chubby."
After recently opening up about her journey towards self love and confronting trauma in her past, Valerie has told Good Housekeeping that she is over feeling "ashamed" about her image.
"I don't want to feel shame all the time for having extra weight on my body — and I don't think I should be made to feel shameful. Because I am still a lovable, kind person, no matter what I weigh," she said.
Her stance has been inspiring for all, including many of her peers in the entertainment industry. Kelly Clarkson has publicly cheered Valerie on for calling out problematic behavior previously. Thursday's video resonated with friends like The Pioneer Woman's Ree Drummond, who shared, "Beautiful Valerie, you inspire, you encourage, and you make people feel like everything is good and right."
Support also came from stars like Demi Lovato, who has also opened up about struggles with body positivity. "I love you. You said it yourself, you're already enough… I'm sorry you had to deal [with] this. Here for you always ??????," Demi wrote.
But the best support of all may have come from her son, Wolfie, as both have been through a tough year after Valerie's ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen, died from cancer in October 2020.
"You're perfect the way you are, Ma. I love you," Wolfie shared in a comment.
It certainly seems that Valerie is continually committed to bringing light to negative comments by being honest about her feelings. "Aren't we tired of body shaming women yet?!" she asked fans in the caption of the Instagram video from Thursday. "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 … We all could use a little more kindness and patience and grace, because we just never know what someone else is going through."
On Friday, Valerie took time to respond directly to the thousands of comments and words of encouragement she's received. "Thank you. There's so much kindness out there, I certainly don't feel so alone anymore," she said in a story, joking that it was time for her to get back to cooking. "Let's get back to me posting some delicious recipes and my kitties!"
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