After 18 Years, Valerie Bertinelli Confirms the Reason for Divorce from Eddie Van Halen

After 18 years of silence, Valerie Bertinelli has finally confirmed the real reason behind her divorce from legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen — a revelation that offers a mix of heartbreak, honesty, and emotional closure.

Though the couple officially divorced in 2007, their story has long been shrouded in mystery, with fans speculating about the cause of their separation.

Now, Bertinelli is speaking openly, and for the first time, shedding light on the truth behind their split.

Valerie and Eddie were one of the most talked-about celebrity couples of the 1980s.

She was a rising television star, known for her role on *One Day at a Time*, while he was a rock icon whose band, Van Halen, had already reached global fame.

Their marriage in 1981 captured public imagination — a rare union of TV sweetheart and rock ‘n’ roll rebel.

But behind the glamor and red carpets, things were far more complicated.

According to Bertinelli, their marriage was deeply affected by Eddie’s long-term struggles with addiction.

She revealed that the emotional toll of living with someone battling substance abuse became increasingly difficult to bear.

“I loved Ed more than I knew how to express, but love isn’t always enough when addiction is involved,” she admitted.

The cycles of hope and disappointment, sobriety and relapse, created a volatile environment that eventually eroded the foundation of their relationship.

Despite the pain, Valerie said the decision to divorce wasn’t rooted in anger or betrayal, but in the need for survival — for both of them.

She explained that she needed to step away not to stop loving him, but to save herself and to give him the space to confront his demons.

“I didn’t leave because I stopped caring. I left because I had to find peace and healing,” she said.

Over the years, Bertinelli remained private about the details, often deflecting questions and choosing to focus on co-parenting their son, Wolfgang.

But behind the scenes, the bond between her and Eddie never completely disappeared.

Even after their divorce, they remained close friends, sharing birthdays, holidays, and life milestones as a family.

She was by his side in his final days before he passed away in 2020, holding his hand as he took his last breath.

Now, looking back, Valerie says the divorce was not a failure but a necessary transformation.

“We didn’t stop being family just because we divorced,” she reflected.

“We just changed what that family looked like.”

Her voice, though heavy with emotion, carries no bitterness — only love, gratitude, and a sense of peace that comes from years of reflection.

By sharing her truth after nearly two decades, Bertinelli offers not just a personal confession, but a powerful message about love, boundaries, and resilience.

Her story is not one of scandal, but of two people doing their best under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

And for fans who followed their journey from the outside, her honesty provides long-awaited clarity and a final, heartfelt chapter in a deeply human love story.