Valerie Bertinelli Unveils Disturbing Childhood Trauma in Upcoming Memoir
In a candid revelation, Valerie Bertinelli disclosed that she endured sexual abuse at the tender age of 11, a truth she never intended to share in her forthcoming memoir. “I had no plans to reveal this,” the 65-year-old actress stated in a recent interview, emphasizing that her original aim was to write a book focused on self-love.
Her memoir, titled “Getting Naked,” is set for release on March 10. As she navigated the writing process, Bertinelli found herself confronting painful memories. “I guess because I’m healing from it, it’s not so scary anymore. I can say it out loud. I was sexually assaulted. It doesn’t feel like it owns me anymore,” she explained.
Delving into her past, Bertinelli reflected on the shame she once felt, only to discover that these experiences are integral to her identity. “I explored the parts that I thought were shameful and come to find out they’re not. They’re all kinds of different facets of what makes us who we are,” she noted.
To emphasize the gravity of her story, Bertinelli chose to open the chapter discussing her abuse with a photograph of herself at age 11. “That was the little girl that was sexually abused,” she remarked, expressing disbelief over the violation of her childhood innocence. “It boggles my mind that this little girl was taken advantage of that way. It boggles my mind because it’s still happening ... and I’m furious about it. And we need to start speaking up and saying, ‘Enough.’”
The decision to publicly address her trauma was not made lightly; it took a decade for Bertinelli to reach this point. “The very first time I said it out loud to my therapist, I thought I’m going to feel better now. It got worse before it got better,” she recounted, admitting that she turned to food and alcohol as coping mechanisms.
“When you stop eating things for comfort, stop drinking alcohol, it exposes your feelings. You can deal with them or not. And I chose to deal with them. I don’t feel shame about it anymore. I’m pissed off that it happened. Nobody deserves that,” she asserted.
Earlier this year, Bertinelli gained attention on social media after addressing criticism regarding her gray hair and filter usage in a viral Instagram video. This moment followed a significant anxiety attack that prompted her to prioritize self-care and confront long-standing issues of body image and self-criticism.
“All of that shame had nothing to do with my body,” she explained. “It was just something to take out my shame on. My poor body. I was so mean to it.” As she worked through these feelings, she became aware of how others might perceive her struggles with self-loathing.
In May, she shared another poignant post on Instagram, reflecting on what she described as “some of the most emotionally excruciating eight months of my life,” while also expressing gratitude for the lessons learned through adversity.
Looking back at the girl in the photograph who loved coloring, reading, and riding her bike, Bertinelli now identifies as more than just a survivor; she has emerged as a resilient individual ready to share her story.
For those seeking support, resources are available through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
