In a raw and emotional social media post that has left fans talking, Mike Goodnough — the ex-boyfriend of beloved actress Valerie Bertinelli — opened up about their painful breakup, describing the experience as one of the most “difficult and heartbreaking” chapters of his life.
Goodnough, a writer and self-proclaimed “Hoarse Whisperer,” took to his blog over the weekend to share the details of their split, which many fans hadn’t even realized had happened. While he didn’t name Bertinelli directly, his heartfelt words and timeline of events made it clear he was referring to the “One Day at a Time” star.
“Losing someone you love deeply isn’t just sad — it rips through your soul,” Goodnough wrote. “You start to question what was real and what wasn’t. And that’s the hardest part — trying to hold onto the good while letting go of what can never be again.”
The post quickly went viral, with thousands of fans flooding the comments to support Goodnough and Bertinelli. Many were surprised by the level of transparency, calling it “refreshingly honest” and “deeply relatable.”
Valerie, who has also been open about her personal growth following her divorce from rock legend Eddie Van Halen and her journey toward self-love, has not publicly responded to Goodnough’s message. However, last month, she hinted at being single again during an Instagram Q&A, saying she focused on “healing and happiness.”
The couple had quietly begun dating sometime in early 2023 and had occasionally shared sweet glimpses of their relationship online, leading fans to root for their romance. But as Goodnough hinted in his post, sometimes even the most genuine love stories come with painful endings.
“There’s no villain here,” he wrote. “Just two people who tried, and ultimately couldn’t make it work.”
Fans have praised the pair for handling the breakup with maturity and grace, with many expressing hope that both will find peace and joy in their next chapters.
While breakups are never easy, Goodnough’s candid post reminds us that heartbreak is a shared human experience — and even in Hollywood, love can be complicated.