Despite his ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli‘s damning claims about his personality, Tom Vitale appears to be thriving!
The businessman shot to fame after tieing the knot to Food Network’s sweetheart. The couple appeared to be living on cloud nine for ten years until the Golden Globe Award winner filed for divorce in 2021.
Following their separation, the “One Day at a Time” actress has revealed several unsavory truths about her ex-husband, including his narcissistic personality. After months of silence, Vitale recently responded to the entertainer’s accusations.
Valerie Bertinelli’s Ex-husband Reacts To His ‘Narcissist’ Label
Celebrity marriages are never as easy-going as they appear, take the tumultuous relationship between Bertinelli and Vitale. After the entertainer opened up about a “narcissist” ex who laughed at her weight, PageSix reported that the financial planner dodged questions about his ex-wife.
In the video obtained by the news outlet, a cameraman cornered the 59-year-old outside his PostalAnnex store in Malibu, California, on Wednesday, March 8. The businessman was all smiles as he stepped out in a casual ensemble featuring a long-sleeved black shirt and blue jeans with a baseball cap, blue-tinted shades, and sneakers.
“Now that your divorce with Valerie is over, the settlement’s done. She called you a narcissist. What do you think about that?” the paparazzi asked as Vitale approached his store. Still smiling, he asked the reporter what he thought about Bertinelli’s accusations.
As the voice behind the camera cracked after being floored by the unexpected question, Vitale laughed it off by saying, “It’s a joke, man.” Before the paparazzi could throw in another question, the store owner brushed him off and told him to find something else to do.
When pressed for more information, the 59-year-old said, “You know what I do? I work hard. I have a lot of fun,” and advised the reporter to do the same. When the cameraman kept following him, the financial planner allowed him to peek inside his store before telling him to leave.
Although Vitale must earn a pretty penny from his store, his divorce from the “Valerie’s Home Cooking” star came with significant profits. During the finalization of the couple’s divorce in 2022, the entertainer paid her ex-husband $2.2 million as ordered by a judge.
This money served as part of the pair’s divorce proceedings. Before this hefty bill, Bertinelli reportedly paid Vitale $500,000 on May 24. On the bright side, spousal support was out of the picture, thanks to the former spouses’ prenuptial agreement.
Last month, The Blast shared that the Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree was over her “narcissist” ex-husband in an Instagram Story rant. The 62-year-old uploaded a video of herself discussing life after an emotionally abusive relationship.
According to the Food Network star, she kicked off her New Year with strenuous exercises to help with her connective tissues. Although the workouts were painful, the mother-of-one noted that they gave her body a joyful release.
“I believe there is a lot of emotional pain that’s stored in the body, and I’m doing my best to heal from it in every way,” Bertinelli confessed before thanking fans for supporting her through her healing journey.
Although most could relate to the TV personality’s pain, the Delaware native noted that a few people did not understand her plight. “There’s a few of you that don’t understand and think, ‘omg, get over it!’ I’m over it. I’m over the narcissist. I’m long over the narcissist,” the SAG award nominee declared.
The Daytime Emmy Award Winner Celebrated Her Divorce From Tom Vitale
Last November, The Blast revealed that Bertinelli had no regrets following the finalization of her divorce. After ten years of marriage, the actress cited “irreconcilable differences” in her 2021 filing.
Although the couple signed a prenuptial agreement before their marriage, the divorce proceedings became a lengthy court battle because of Vitale. The financial planner questioned the validity of the couple’s contract, using this loophole to request $50,000 monthly spousal support.
Following the end of her entanglement with the businessman, the 62-year-old marked her freedom on Twitter with an adorable video. The mother-of-one happily gushed about her divorce, describing it as the “second best day of her life.”
“On 11/22/22, I am officially f**kng divorced. Happily divorced. Finally. It’s finally over. Yes!” Bertinelli joyfully screamed in the video. Before her marriage to Vitale, the Hollywood veteran was married to the late singer Eddie Van Halen. The former lovebirds welcomed the actress’s only child, a son named Wolfgang.
