Valerie Bertinelli announced to her fans that she finally felt “free” in an Instagram post shared on Sunday while celebrating her first New Year after her divorce from Tom Vitale.
The Hot In Cleveland star, 62, also shared a short clip in the post of her beaming smile and whirling around as she fully embraced 2023, writing, “There’s so much to look forward to can look forward to.”
The TV personality happily announced in November last year that her divorce from Vitale was officially finalized after 11 years of marriage, taking to Twitter at the time: “I’m officially freaking divorced!”
‘Free’: Valerie Bertinelli, 62, shared an Instagram video on Sunday as she celebrated the New Year and expressed in the caption that she felt ‘free’ following her divorce from Tom Vitale two months earlier
The Golden Globe winner starred in a short selfie video, easily filmed with her phone camera while having a bright smile on her face.
The talented actress twirled her right arm in the air while Taylor Swift’s track “Clean” from the singer’s 1989 album played in the background.
Valerie decided to create the fast roll with the sun slowly setting on the horizon while opting for comfort and wearing a long-sleeved white sweater with black embroidered patterns.
The cooking star wrote a heartfelt caption to her 1.1million Instagram followers as she fully embraced the new chapter and year of her life following their divorce, which happened two months earlier in November.
‘This New Years Day comes in so much happier than last year,’ Valerie typed, adding, ‘From a young age New Years Day has been one of my absolute favorite days, for 5-6 years it has been one of the saddest.’
A fresh start: In the caption of her New Year’s post, the Hot In Cleveland star wrote, “This New Year’s Day is coming in so much happier than last year.”
Valerie then positively added: “Not anymore. There is so much to look forward to now where before it just seemed infinitely sad, scary, lonely and stressful.”
The TV personality then explained that while she “has no idea what’s in store for me,” the star is “not worried.” I am free.’
“This New Year’s Day 2023 is the first day of the rest of my life! I wish you all every bit of joy and happiness and kindness that you claim. It’s all yours Take it!’ Valerie happily wrote to her fans.
The comments section was flooded with words of support for the actress from social media users.
Her former One Day At A Time co-star Mackenzie Phillips typed, “Yes! You look radiantly happy and that is so inspiring. I love you sister.’
Don’t worry: The TV personality then explained that while she “has no idea what’s in store for me,” the star has “no worries.” I am free’
Positive words: Valerie then sent a motivational message to her followers, expressing: ‘Wishing you all every bit of joy and happiness and kindness that you claim. It’s all yours Take it!’
Valerie tied the knot with businessman Tom in 2011, but after 11 years of marriage, the actress filed for a legal separation in November 2021. In May 2022, she took another step and filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Months later, their divorce was finalized just days before Thanksgiving in November 2022. The star shared the big news by uploading a video to her main social media pages
The actress announced emotionally: “The papers are all signed, they will be submitted in a moment, on 11/22/22 I am officially divorced! Happily divorced! God.’
‘Finally. It’s finally over. Yes!’ and tweeted “11/22/22 second best day of my life” along with the video.
Prior to her marriage to Tom, Valerie was married to Eddie Van Halen, musician and lead guitarist for the rock band Van Halen. The two married in 1981 but divorced in 2007. They have one son together, Wolfgang, now 31.
Big announcement: Valerie revealed to her followers in November 2022 that her divorce from Tim Vitale was officially final
Recent split: The One Day At A Time actress filed for a legal separation from Tom in November 2021 and their divorce was finalized a year later; the two were spotted in NYC in October 2012
Shortly after announcing that she was “happily divorced,” Valerie traveled to Italy and spent her Thanksgiving vacation with her son, Wolfgang.
During an interview on the Today show last June, the actress was asked if she’d be looking for love again after her second divorce, and she replied, “Oh god no.”
The award winner explained that the reason is because she “can’t imagine ever trusting someone to let me into my life again. So I have some trust issues that I’m sure I need to overcome.
Valerie went on to explain, “I’ll be happier to be happily divorced and to spend the rest of my life alone,” adding that she has “six cats and my dog and my son and hopefully someday grandkids.”
Celebration: Shortly after announcing that she was “happily divorced”, Valerie flew to Italy and spent her Thanksgiving with her son Wolfgang, whom she shares with her first husband, Eddie Van Halen
First marriage: Valerie was married to Eddie Van Halen when the two tied the knot in 1981, but they divorced in 2007 and have one son together, Wolfgang, now 31