Rachael Ray left fans “worried” after posting a video in which she appears to slur her words.
The 56-year-old iconic TV chef shared a clip from her series “Rachael Ray in Tuscany” Instagram on Monday, September 2, telling the audience that he had invited legendary singer Tony Bennett to dinner, and – in his words – “almost killed him.”
Ray recalled the shocking story while showing viewers how to make Bennett's favourite dish, ossobuco – braised veal shanks with polenta and bread.
The bestselling cookbook author admitted that when Bennett first moved into her home, she went “a little overboard” and polished her kitchen floor – a move that led to Bennett taking a dangerous fall.
“When I pulled out the chair for Tony so he could sit down for his starter snacks and aperitivo, the chair slipped out from underneath him and his head hit the marble counter I had placed behind him and he fell to the floor,” Ray recalled.
The TV personality, who closes her popular daytime show in 2023, was stunned. “I thought I killed Tony Bennett,” she recalled. “I thought I killed him, literally. And his wife, Susan — so wonderful — she says to me, “Rachel, he’s OK. He’ll be back. Just let him be.”
According to Ray, “he ate it all at dinner”, adding that he also ate twice as much food.
Bennett died on July 21, 2023, at the age of 96 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's. Ray remembered him as “a gentleman.”
“I miss my friends so much,” she said. “Probably the most beautiful man I've ever met.”
On Instagram, viewers' attention shifted from TV chef Ray's story to the manner in which he was speaking.
One person asked, “Is she speaking gibberish or am I speaking gibberish(?)”
Another concerned fan wrote, “Wait! What is going on with Rachel Ray?”
Someone else commented on Ray's post, “I love you but are you okay? I'm seriously worried.”
Many others expressed the same sentiment, with one person wondering, “What happened(?).”
As commenters raised questions about Ray's appearance and speech, others came to his defense.
“OMG YOU GUYS ARE RUDE!!!!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and food today,” one fan said.
Another supporter responded, “OMG all you role models are making the most horrible, disgusting comments. Move on!”
Many also slammed commenters for raising questions about Ray's health. “That's not our job, but our job is to just listen to his story and look at the positive aspects,” one supporter said.
“She is getting older like all of us. Maybe she has some disease, maybe she is on medication. Still, no need to feel bad,” someone else added.
One supporter pointed out that Ray's way of speaking may have changed because of her emotions. “She got emotional talking about her friend,” the person said, referring to Bennett.
As for the criticism of the culinary expert's appearance, one fan summed up the sentiment of many Rachel Ray lovers.
“She is aging normally she hasn't had any plastic surgery or just getting it done like everyone else… people know the truth… everyone is thinking all the celebrities are having plastic surgery for boobs, lips but (sic) anything and she is aging naturally just like us so yes this is a shock to you all,” he wrote. “Rachel go do your thing and thanks for showing us the real you.”
Ray has not publicly disclosed any health issues during her many years in the spotlight. However, the TV star did express concern about her health in 2008 when rumors began to circulate that she was undergoing surgery for throat cancer.
“Rachel is the picture of health,” Ray's rep, Charlie Dougielo, said at the time. “She is undergoing very minor surgery to remove a benign cyst on her vocal cord. It is a common in-and-out procedure that she will have in early December and will not have any adverse effect on any of her daytime shows or Food Network tapings.”
The Post has contacted Ray’s rep for comment.
