Though we’re used to seeing Valerie Bertinelli talk about how to create masterpiece dinners from home or offering insight to aspiring young bakers on shows like Valerie’s Home Cooking and Kid’s Baking Championship, the television star has found herself taking on some more serious topics after online critics began commenting on her appearance.
Over the weekend, Valerie Bertinelli posted a video on Instagram and TikTok detailing a banana-centered sweet treat recipe, where she received a comment from a viewer saying “the Botox looks great.” Though the comment may seem positive, Bertinelli recognized the back-handed nature, and used the opportunity to post a follow up video addressing the commonality of shaming women online.
“I know you didn’t mean that as a compliment, but let’s talk about it, shall we,” the actress began. She went on to explain that she has in fact tried Botox and “hated it,” as it changed the shape of her eyebrows and made her like not like herself rather than helping with her “genetically puffy eyes” as she had intended.
After getting candid about her experiences with cosmetic procedures, Bertinelli shifted her focus to addressing the more pertinent issue of women shaming other women online. “You’re trying to shame me, and you’re a woman,” she began, “what made you go out of your way to shame me?” The 63-year-old’s question is an important one, as she explains how it is all too common for women to be shamed online, especially for their appearance.
Keeping her message kind as always, Bertinelli sums up her response by saying “we women have to stick together.” In the caption of the video, the home cook urges fans not to shame the commenter that prompted the video, but rather to learn from the experience and focus on not shaming others for doing what they have to do to “go out into this crazy world” feeling more confident.
