**Valerie Bertinelli Speaks Out After Diet Company Fires Her Over Weight Gain**
Key Takeaways:
- Valerie Bertinelli revealed she was fired by a diet company after regaining weight.
- The actress reflected on her emotional journey toward self-acceptance during an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show.”
- Her comments strike a chord in the ongoing cultural shift away from toxic diet culture and unrealistic beauty standards.
New York, NY — Valerie Bertinelli is trending after publicly revealing she was fired by a diet company for gaining weight, despite losing 50 pounds as their spokesperson. The 65-year-old actress made the emotional disclosure during a recent appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on January 14, 2026, reigniting public discourse around diet culture, mental health, and body image in the entertainment industry.
Bertinelli Recounts Firing During Talk Show Segment
Appearing on the “Memory Bank” segment, **Valerie Bertinelli** reflected on a 2012 photo taken at her **Hollywood Walk of Fame** ceremony. While others on the show complimented her appearance, Bertinelli confessed she felt “horrified” at the time, revealing the behind-the-scenes pressure she was under due to her size. She explained she was let go by a diet company after putting weight back on, despite being a size 12 in the photo.
“I had started a diet program and then became their spokesperson in 2007, and I had lost 50 pounds,” Bertinelli said. “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. They fired me, eventually said, ‘We can’t keep going with you because you’re gaining weight again.’”
Bertinelli became emotional during the segment but said she feels stronger now, emotionally and mentally. “What matters is who I am, how I treat people. Period!” she told the studio audience, to applause and cheers.
A Turning Point Against Diet Culture
The timing of Bertinelli’s statement aligns with a broader cultural reckoning around the ethics and impact of the diet and weight-loss industry. For decades, celebrities — particularly women — have been pressured to endorse and adhere to extreme weight-loss plans that often put appearance ahead of health. Bertinelli said she no longer weighs herself and has dismissed the unrealistic standards she once believed in, calling them “stupid.”
“This is a 150lb body on a 5-foot-4 frame. I don’t weigh myself anymore because this is considered overweight by whose standards—I don’t know,” she posted on Instagram in February 2024.
Her openness mirrors the sentiments of other public figures like **Oprah Winfrey** and **Kate Winslet**, who have also criticized Hollywood’s obsession with thinness, Botox, and weight-loss drugs. Winfrey recently admitted to internalizing fat jokes made about her, saying she once believed they were “right.” Meanwhile, Winslet condemned unrealistic beauty expectations in a recent interview.
Public Response Signals Cultural Shift
Bertinelli’s comments resonated deeply across social media platforms, generating viral support from fans and fellow celebrities. The conversation is occurring during a pivotal time when younger generations are pushing back against traditional body image messaging. Hashtags like #BodyPositivity, #MentalHealthMatters, and #StopFatShaming have seen spikes in activity since the episode aired.
Health organizations and professionals have also weighed in, noting that the discussion around emotional well-being and body image is long overdue. Mental health experts emphasize that focusing solely on physical appearance often exacerbates anxiety, depression, and disordered eating — especially in public figures whose images shape societal norms.
Calls for Transparency in Wellness Marketing
Critics argue the firing highlights a systemic issue within the multi-billion-dollar weight-loss industry. While many diet companies market themselves as health-focused, decisions like these expose a continued emphasis on outward appearance over sustainable health. Experts are now calling for tighter regulations on promotional campaigns that target vulnerable individuals with “before-and-after” transformations.
Bertinelli’s experience is now being referenced in forums advocating for more ethical brand representation and honest advertising in the wellness space. Her refusal to stay silent and insistence that “kindness and character” should define a person — not weight — has brought renewed scrutiny to similar partnerships in the entertainment and fitness sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Valerie Bertinelli trending?
A: She recently revealed on “The Drew Barrymore Show” that she was fired by a diet company for regaining weight, sparking a public outcry against toxic diet culture.
Q: What happens next?
A: Bertinelli’s story is amplifying calls for ethical marketing and more inclusive health narratives. Expect increased scrutiny of how wellness brands work with celebrity spokespersons.
#ValerieBertinelli
