Former Food Network personality and actress Valerie Bertinelli has made an emotional revelation about her past experience as a spokesperson for a diet company, claiming she was fired after gaining weight.
Emotional Television Appearance
The 65-year-old star of One Day at a Time fought back tears as she shared the alleged incident during an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show. Bertinelli detailed the situation, which she says occurred nearly two decades ago at an unnamed business, while participating in the programme's Memory Bank segment where celebrities reveal personal anecdotes.
Weight Loss Journey and Sudden Dismissal
Bertinelli explained that she had initially joined the diet programme in 2007 and subsequently became their official spokesperson after losing an impressive 50 pounds. "I had started a diet program and then became their spokesperson in 2007 and I had lost 50 pounds," she recalled during the emotional interview.
However, the actress described how life circumstances began to affect her wellbeing. "And then life started to get the better of me, and I wasn't taking care of my mental and emotional health, so the weight started to come back on," Bertinelli revealed. She believes this was her final year with the company before the alleged termination.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony
To illustrate her story, Bertinelli showed a photograph of herself wearing a white dress during her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2012. She claimed that by this time she had gained three dress sizes and was wearing a size 12 outfit for the prestigious event.
"I remember thinking, 'But size 12 is not that big!'" Bertinelli told the audience. "But I had gotten down to a size 4, which was way too small for me and impossible for me to maintain."
Personal Reflections on Body Image
The television personality noted that her weight has consistently fluctuated throughout her life and that she currently wears a size 10. "I would've been horrified then being on the diet program being a size 10," she admitted. "But right now, it's about my mental and emotional health."
Emotional Declaration of Self-Worth
Visibly overcome with emotion during the interview, Bertinelli made a powerful statement about self-acceptance. "I'm so strong and firm in who I am and, no matter what people throw at me, I know who I am and I know what kind of person I am and it doesn't matter how much I weigh," she declared to applause from the studio audience.
Bertinelli emphasized that her weight does not define her character or worth as a person. "What is our heart? How do we treat people? Period!" she concluded passionately.
Symbolic White Dress
Interestingly, Bertinelli still owns the white dress she wore for her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony over a decade ago. She revealed that "It fits me just fine" today, though she noted it's "a little less snug than it is there."
The actress used this tangible connection to her past to reinforce her message about body acceptance, stating firmly that "it doesn't matter what size we are" when it comes to personal value and character.
