Valerie Bertinelli Diet Spokesperson Firing: The High Cost of the 'Size 4' Ideal

The scale moved, and the contract vanished. Valerie Bertinelli just pulled back the curtain on the ruthless standards of the weight-loss industry, revealing she was fired as a spokesperson for gaining weight.

Valerie Bertinelli Diet Spokesperson Firing: From Success to Dismissal

During a candid appearance on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' on January 19, 2026, the 'One Day at a Time' star reflected on a pivotal moment from 2012. Bertinelli became the face of an unnamed diet company in 2007 after losing 50 pounds, eventually reaching a size 4—a size she now describes as "impossible to maintain."

As life's challenges took a toll on her mental and emotional health, the weight began to return. The company's response was definitive. Bertinelli recalled they eventually told her, "We can’t keep going with you because you’re gaining weight again." At the time of her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, she was a size 12, a number that left her feeling "horrified" despite her professional achievements.

Redefining Health Beyond the Numbers

Today, Bertinelli stands at a size 10 and refuses to let a clothing tag define her worth. "It doesn't matter how much I weigh," she told Drew Barrymore, emphasizing that her current mental and emotional strength is what truly matters. She noted that she still owns the dress from that 2012 ceremony, and it now fits "just fine."

The conversation touched on the broader issue of body dysmorphia and how society trains individuals to feel their bodies are "wrong." Barrymore echoed this sentiment, calling for a shift in focus toward what is spiritually and physically healthy for the individual rather than meeting arbitrary aesthetic benchmarks.