In a candid Instagram story posted on Saturday, Valerie Bertinelli, the esteemed 63-year-old Food Network host and actress, shared that she received news on Friday that she won’t be invited back to participate in future editions of “Kids Baking Championship.”

Expressing visible distress, Bertinelli, 63, repeatedly conveyed, “It really hurt my feelings.” The longtime co-host of the Food Network show alongside Duff Goldman since its 2015 premiere attributed her departure to budget cuts. Notably, representatives from Food Network did not promptly respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Bertinelli went on to disclose that she filmed episodes for the currently airing Season 12 of the show during the summer of 2022, a period she described as “my apex year of hell” due to her divorce from Tom Vitale.

The “Hot in Cleveland” star revealed that she was outwardly maintaining a facade of normalcy while privately grappling with challenges, emphasizing that the show had saved her life during that tumultuous time. Describing it as a “floatation device,” Bertinelli explained how the act of working, spreading kindness, and being productive helped her navigate personal hardships.

Expressing deep disappointment at not being able to return to the show, Bertinelli lamented her inability to personally convey gratitude to everyone involved, including Goldman, the crew, and the young bakers.

In a heartfelt message to future contestants of “Kids Baking Championship,” she affirmed their presence as a testament to being among the best bakers in America. Encouraging resilience, she reminded them that a setback didn’t reflect their baking prowess but was merely a challenging day. Her parting words urged them always to believe in themselves and continue baking, as she expressed her genuine sentiments, “I’ll miss you guys.”