Valerie Bertinelli responds to criticism of Van Halen tribute

Valerie Bertinelli said she no longer lets criticism of her tributes to her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen, affect her, responding in an Instagram video after posting a photograph of the two on the sixth anniversary of his death. Bertinelli shared the photo on October 6, 2026, with the caption, “Photos may fade, like old photos do, but not the memories and never the love.” In a follow-up video, she said she receives pushback when she posts pictures with Van Halen and that critics call her obsessed. She said the comments used to bother her but no longer do. Bertinelli described commenters as berating her and making her question her feelings until she might conclude that she no longer loved Van Halen. She also said critics’ remarks could lead her to remove a photograph. The reports do not independently establish who made the comments, their exact wording or how widespread they were; the account of the criticism and its effects comes from Bertinelli. She said she never stopped loving Van Halen and that her heart could hold love for him as well as for other people in her life.