Actress and chef Valerie Bertinelli was a former Food Network star, but things have changed. At first, she tried to be okay with it, rationalizing that she cut from the network was “business” and it wasn’t “supposed to” be a personal slam, even though she admitted that it “really hurt my feelings.” Now, she’s not being so nice.
Back in January, Bertinelli turned to Instagram to share the news with her followers that she was “not going to be asked back to be on Kids Baking Championship.” She went on to explain that it especially hurt because “The episodes that are airing right now, I shot back in the summer of 2022 which was my apex year of hell. Like I was going through it and pretending everything was just fine.”
She wasn’t fine. She admitted, “the show saved my life. It just – working with all of those really wonderful people, and feeling productive, and knowing I could spread some kindness, and not just wallow in my hell and try to keep my head above water. It helped me. It was like a floatation device.”
She even went on to share some words of wisdom with the incoming contestants, telling them, “You’re some of the best bakers in America right now, and if you don’t make it to the next round, please always remember this – it’s not because you’re not a good baker. You just had a bad day. So, always, always believe in yourself. Please do that for me.”
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That was January. This is April, and Bertinelli isn’t feeling any better about Food Network. In fact, she’s not just upset that they cut her from a show that “saved” her life. Now, she’s slamming the network even more, claiming they’re no longer “about cooking and learning.”
On Threads, Bertinelli shared, “I fell in love with Food Network two decades ago because of all the amazing ITK (in the kitchen) shows. 30 minute meals, Ina, Giada…the list goes on. I learned so much. It’s sad it’s not about cooking and learning any longer. Oh well, that’s just business, folks.”
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While Bertinelli may not like the decisions being made over at Food Network, she still has a positive outlook on life at the moment. She recently went on The Kelly Clarkson Show and dished to Kelly Clarkson about how she’s doing now. She’s dating again and has “butterflies” in her stomach. She also has a new cookbook called “Indulge.”
Watch the video below to hear more about how Bertinelli is doing now, why she temporarily stopped cooking, and what prompted her to decide to start cooking again.
