Mike Goodnough Opens Up About His Split with Valerie Bertinelli: A Look into Their Complicated Love Story

• Valerie Bertinelli’s ex-boyfriend Mike Goodnough took to Instagram on April 18 to address a prior social media post, stating it “made it worse, not better.”
• He expressed his regret for being the “cause” of “an ado about conflict between Valerie and I that ended up in the press.”
• “Valerie and I had a complicated relationship,” wrote Goodnough, who was in a relationship with the Food Network star for 10 months.

Mike Goodnough, former boyfriend of Valerie Bertinelli, has spoken up regarding their breakup, sharing his regrets about the drama that emerged from a social media post.

In his Instagram post shared on April 18, Goodnough, 54, reflected on a past statement that contained personal details about their breakup.

He began his extensive message with a note of distress: “Writing this post makes me absolutely miserable.” The post featured a graphic that read: “You & me. The end.”

Goodnough explained, “But it feels like something I have to do.” He elaborated, “A few weeks ago, there was an ado about conflict between Valerie and I that ended up in the press. A post of mine was the catalyst. I regret posting it. I wish I hadn’t. While the issue was real, my post exacerbated the situation.”

“Valerie and I had a complicated relationship,” he continued. “Although our romantic involvement ended several months ago, our close contact mostly ceased only recently. Therefore, it feels more ‘fresh’ than one might assume.”

The couple ended their relationship in November 2024, as confirmed by a source at that time. Before Goodnough, Bertinelli was married to financial planner Tom Vitale from 2011 to 2022, following her first marriage to the late Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007.

Goodnough noted that numerous “external” factors contributed to their breakup.

“These factors were not specifically issues within our relationship but still had an impact,” he wrote. “One constant was our love for each other. I loved Valerie more than I have ever loved anyone in a romantic relationship. (My love for my son is a different matter.)”

“Consequently, the end of our relationship, and the way it unfolded, has been the most painful experience of my life,” he added. “It has been so acutely agonizing that it has redefined how much heartbreak can hurt. What used to feel like a 10 is now a four.”

In conclusion, Goodnough affirmed that their relationship had officially ended, stating, “This chapter is now closed for me.” He mentioned that he and Bertinelli had not communicated much in recent months. He reached out to her this week, but did not receive a response.

He remarked, “Over the past few months, I had hoped we could part gently rather than abruptly, yet we couldn’t seem to achieve that.” He added, “Reaching out again this week was an effort in that hope. No response is an answer in itself, and I accept that.”

Goodnough concluded, “I won’t have anything further to say on this topic — nothing more will emerge from me about it. I’ve cried enough over this matter; it’s time to move on.”

Earlier this month, Goodnough also shared an open post about their relationship, expressing feelings about their interactions since their split. He appeared to allege that Bertinelli had made “hostile, dishonest, and uncalled-for backhanded swipes” at him.

“Valerie is in a war with her ghosts. I’m just the guy who catches the bullets. And that isn’t new,” he stated previously.

Despite the challenges following their breakup, Goodnough reflected on the joy he experienced while supporting Bertinelli during the launch of her cookbook, Indulge, which he described as one of “the most joyful” periods of his life.

“While our relationship as partners concluded, my care for her has not diminished,” he acknowledged.