'Not everything has to be shared': Valerie Bertinelli sparks online debate with claim that she and Eddie Van Halen were ‘not soulmates'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Valerie Bertinelli has opened up about her first marriage with Eddie Van Halen. The two had been married from 1981 to 2007

The actress posted on Instagram on May 2 after her son Wolfgang Van Halen's episode of ‘Behind the Music’ on Paramount+ was released, reportedly showcasing the relationship he shared with his late father.

Valerie Bertinelli shares her pain after watching ‘Behind the Music’

She said, as reported by People, “I was finally able to watch Wolfie's Behind the Music. It was not easy.”

The 64-year-old TV personality continued, “I'd stopped it many times because it was just too brutal to watch for many reasons. One, seeing Wolfie's pain. Two, seeing what a better job I could have done as a parent even though he turned out magnificently. I made a lot of mistakes.

"And three, seeing what I had turned of Ed's and my relationship — into some sort of fantasy, soulmate recreation of history," she stated.

Valerie Bertinelli claims Eddie Van Halen never made her ‘feel loved’

As per reports, Bertinelli and the late musician’s relationship worsened because of his drug and alcohol intake.

She asserted, “Nothing that makes you feel loved and wanted and cared for. Nothing that would scream soulmate, that's for sure.”

The ‘Touched by an Angel’ star, however, mentioned that after the 2020 death of Halen, she was “more than willing to put myself in the grieving widow category for a man that I hadn't lived with for 20 years.”

She shared, “What we had together was this beautiful son that we both unconditionally loved. That's what I got out of that marriage was Wolfie, the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Not a soulmate,” Bertinelli added.

People share the 'soulmate idea is a fallacy'

However, the Golden Globe Awards winner has received mixed reactions online with one commenting, “I don't really understand this kind of unloading. To me, it isn't any different than Jon Bon Jovi telling the world he wasn't faithful. Unburdening yourself at the expense of others. Not everything has to be shared.”

Another one wrote, “Val, why did you find the need to do this, it will not change your history. Wolf didn't ask for it, and you should have left it alone. It isn't necessary to open old wounds to prove a point. Enjoy your new happiness and let bygones be bygones. Everyone deserves peace including Ed.”

One more person said, “The ‘soulmate’ idea is a fallacy. It makes it seem like relationships are/should be easy, which they are not. Relationships are continuous work with many ups and downs attached to them. If you are looking for a soulmate, you will always be disappointed because no one can live up to the expectations of an easy, perfect relationship."

"We are all deeply flawed human beings, I believe that every relationship, good, bad, toxic, gives us something that we need to know about ourselves. Hopefully, that learning catches up with us,” the person added.

A user wrote, “But why stay for decades in a marriage if you’re not happy I had to leave it wasn’t healthy I have kids. And I didn’t even have joint custody or the house he took it all.” [sic]

“Healing has so many unanticipated twists and turns. It’s ok. It continues. You are amazing and always an inspiration to stay on the path,” a person shared.

Another one added, “Woman to woman, your honesty and realness is profoundly beautiful. Very Very few people can reach this level of self-awareness and acceptance. Be so proud of yourself woman.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.