Fans are expressing their concern for the 56-year-old chef in her latest cooking video. She appeared to be slurring her words.
The ’30 Minute Meal’ chef posted a tribute video to the late Tony Bennett on September 2. She talked about the time Bennett and his wife, Susan Crow, came over to her house for a dinner of the singer’s favorite dish, Ossobuco. The dish is made by braising veal shanks with vegetables, white wine, and broth.
Rachael recounts the story of how she almost killed Tony Bennet.
“I had polished the floors in the kitchen because, well, Tony Bennett’s coming to dinner. I have to make sure the floors are perfect and the house is clean and everything is just amazing.”
She talked about having gone “overboard” with polishing her floors because Bennett fell and hit his head on her marble counter. At this point, Rachael thought she killed Tony. His wife said he’s ok and he will “pop back up in a moment.” Just as Susan said, Tony was OK , despite the fall. He then went on to eat double portions of the Ossobuco meal.
Rachael said “and he was the biggest eater of ossobuco ever in my house.”
Tony Bennett died last year on July 21, 2023, at the age of 96. There was no specific cause of death, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
After watching Rachael’s video, fans posted their concerns to Instagram comments. Some fans were cruel. “I have been watching Rachael Ray from the beginning… can someone please tell her to brush /fix her hair! It looks like she just got out of bed .. as a hairdresser I just want to fix it ..she always looked nice before.. what’s going on with her .. ”
Another commenter said, “OMG someone get this woman help ! She looks and acts like she has been drinking all the time. I love Racheal but she’s so hard to watch like this .”
A retired nurse suggested Rachael may have a medical issue, “One corner of her mouth is much lower than the other. The nurse in me would have her go into be checked for any side effect from a Stroke or Bells Paly. Please make sure to get checked? Life is just too short! ( Advice from a retired nurse at 66) from an Italian from Boston area!”
Another fan suggested it may be aging. “She’s aging like the rest of us. Maybe she has a medical condition, maybe she is on medication. Regardless, no need to be mean..”
It seemed about half of the fans were more supportive of Rachael. One said, “ I adore Rachael, I would give anything to cook with her and share some wine and laughs with her! She is the most giving and talented person with so much heart, and she deserves nothing but love and respect from her fans, she has mine!”
Another added. “She got emotional talking about her friend is all.”
Rachael Ray is a renowned American television personality, celebrity chef, and author. She was born on August 25, 1968, in Glens Falls, New York. She gained widespread fame with her “30-Minute Meals” concept, which focused on creating quick, easy, and flavorful dishes that could be made in half an hour. This idea resonated with busy home cooks and led to the launch of her hit show “30-Minute Meals” on the Food Network in 2001. Ray’s approachable style and emphasis on simple cooking made her a household name. She went on to host several other successful TV shows, including her daytime talk show, “Rachael Ray.” In addition to her television career, Ray has authored numerous bestselling cookbooks and launched her own magazine, “Every Day with Rachael Ray.”
Despite her success, Ray has faced personal and professional challenges, including health issues like vocal cord surgery and the loss of her home in a fire in 2020. Nonetheless, she has remained resilient, continuing to inspire millions with her positive attitude and passion for making cooking fun and possible for everyone.