Valerie Bertinelli discloses 'Food Network' dropped 'Kids Baking Championship' due to budget cuts

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Valerie Bertinelli has shared her experience of coping with the news of her removal from the 'Kids Baking Championship' by the Food Network.

In her Instagram Story, the actress shared on Saturday, January 20, that it was in fact "budget cuts" that ended her run with the channel.

“I've been avoiding facing what I got confirmation for last night, and I didn't want to talk about it last night because I wanted to sleep on it, but it really hurt my feelings,” she shared.

She added, “I know it's not supposed to, logically. I know it's just business, budget cuts, right, but it really hurt my feelings to know that I'm not going to be asked back.”

“Without sounding like a drama queen, the show saved my life," Bertinelli said, adding that it was "like a floatation device" in what she described as her "apex year of hell,” the 63-year-old continued.

“So it really hurts that I won't be able to go back and see everybody and say, 'Hey, I made it through,'" Valerie said. “'It really sucks.”

Food Network is airing episodes shot in 2022

Valerie Bertinell mentioned that the episodes currently airing on the Food Network were filmed during the summer of 2022.

“I was going through it and pretending everything was just fine, because that's what you do, and without sounding like a drama queen, the show saved my life.”

The star added, “It just... working with all those really wonderful people and feeling productive and knowing I had spread some kindness and not just wallow in my hell and just try to keep my head above water, it helped me. It was like a floatation device.”

“So it really hurts that I won't be able to go back and see everybody and say, 'Hey, I made it through.'"

The 'most sad' part for Valerie

In her social media post, Valerie felt "most sad" about the fact that she won’t be able to say a final goodbye to those who meant a lot to her, reports DailyMail.

“ [I won’t’ ]be able to tell everyone what they mean to me, Les and Duff and that camera crew, that sound crew, art department, the back kitchen crew, oh my God these people work so hard to give you an amazing show.”

“And all of those kid bakers I got to watch grow up, I feel so lucky, and to all the bakers who are coming in for the new season, even though I won't be there, I'll be with you in spirit and I just want you to remember this: you are there for a reason," she said in an emotional message.

"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 a bad baker, you just had a bad day, so always, always believe in yourself,” She added.

“Please do that for me, and keep baking. I'll miss you guys,” Bertinelli concluded.

She bagged two Daytime Emmy Awards for hosting the particular show, and also featured on ‘Valerie's Home Cooking.’