Rachael Ray’s fans have expressed deep concern for her well-being after the renowned TV chef appeared to slur her words in a recent cooking video. In the video tribute to the late Tony Bennett, Ray demonstrated how to prepare his favorite dish, ossobuco. She reminisced about the lengths she went to in order to prepare for his visit, recalling her efforts to ensure her home was spotless for the dinner.
Ray shared that she had polished her kitchen floors in anticipation of Bennett’s arrival, emphasizing the importance of creating a perfect atmosphere. However, the polished floors ended up causing Bennett’s chair to slide, leading him to accidentally hit his head on the marble counter. Ray humorously recalled her panic, thinking, “I thought I killed him, literally,” though she later confirmed Bennett was fine and enjoyed the meal.
Despite the lighthearted nature of the video, viewers became increasingly anxious about Ray’s health. Comments on social media included expressions of concern over her speech, with one user questioning, “I love you but are you ok? I’m seriously concerned,” while another remarked about the slurred speech.
Some viewers pointed out physical aspects of her speech, suggesting she might need a medical evaluation for possible health issues. In contrast, others defended her, attributing any unusual speech patterns to emotional stress related to talking about Bennett, with one fan stating, “She got emotional talking about her friend is all.”
As reported, Ray has not publicly mentioned any health concerns, although she underwent minor surgery in 2008 for a benign cyst on her vocal cord, which did not affect her television engagements at the time. At 56, Ray, originally from Glens Falls, New York, is widely recognized for hosting the syndicated “Rachael” show from 2006 to 2023. She continues to reside part-time in the Adirondacks, working on her home that was lost to a fire in 2020.
In addition to her television career, Ray founded her own production company called Free Food Studios last year, which focuses on cooking content. She also hosts “Rachael Ray in Tuscany” on the FYI Network and has authored several cookbooks and hosted various cooking shows.