Valerie Bertinelli, ex-wife of the late Eddie Van Halen, spoke about her enduring feelings for the rock star in a recent interview with People. The conversation touched upon her regrets regarding their past relationship and the possibility of reconciliation.
Bertinelli reflected on her youth when she first met Van Halen, expressing a wish for greater understanding at the time.
“I met Ed when I was 20. I was too young to know better. I know that I might get in trouble for saying this, but I’m going to say it anyway because maybe somebody else feels this way — I wish I knew then what I know now. I wish I had more compassion back then.”
She acknowledged that despite any personal growth, their marital issues, particularly Van Halen’s struggles with sobriety, would likely have led to divorce.
“We still probably would’ve divorced, because he wasn’t ready to get sober, and I had to protect Wolfie.”
Bertinelli emphasized her continued love for Van Halen and her gratitude for their final year together, highlighting their son as his greatest gift.
“I can’t help but love the man. I went through so much with him, and I’m so grateful for the last year that we had. There’ll always be a huge part of my heart that contains Ed. He gave me the greatest gift, our son.”
When asked about the potential for renewed intimacy, Bertinelli stated her belief that it was unlikely, but maintained that her love for Van Halen was unique and unparalleled.
“Would we have ever been intimate together again? I really don’t think so. But I’ve never loved another man the way I loved Ed. And that’s just the way it is.”
She described a deep, special connection between them that transcended their marital status.
“There’s something deeper there. It doesn’t take away the love he had in his second marriage. It doesn’t take the love away that I had in my second marriage. There is just something about Ed and I that was special.”
Bertinelli concluded by affirming that her continued love for Van Halen did not preclude other relationships and that loving him was preferable to animosity.
“And even though we weren’t married any longer, I still loved him. He still loved me, and that’s okay. You can love the father of your child. Isn’t it better than hating him? So yeah, I loved him. [There will] always be a huge part in my heart for him. It doesn’t mean I don’t have room for other love, but I loved Ed and still do.” Bertinelli and Van Halen were married in 1981 and divorced in 2007. Their son, Wolfgang, was born in 1991.
Eddie Van Halen’s struggles with addiction were a well-documented aspect of his life, impacting both his personal relationships and his career. He publicly discussed his efforts to achieve and maintain sobriety multiple times throughout his life.
Bertinelli’s reflections echo a common sentiment among divorced couples with children, where a deep bond often remains due to shared parenthood. This enduring connection can coexist with new romantic relationships.
The early stages of their relationship were often characterized by the intense whirlwind of rock stardom and public scrutiny. Bertinelli was a television actress and fitness personality at the time of their meeting.
Van Halen passed away in October 2020 after a long battle with cancer. Bertinelli and their son, Wolfgang, were by his side in his final moments.
