Rachael Ray raised concerns among fans after sharing a television clip in which she appeared to slur her words. The celebrity chef posted a video from her FYI series “Rachael Ray in Tuscany” on Monday, in which she pays tribute to the late singer Tony Bennett by preparing his favorite dish, ossobuco, and recounting a story of a mishap involving him at her home.
In the Instagram video, Ray, 56, described how she prepared the braised veal shank and polenta for Bennett and his wife, Susan Crow. She recounted an incident when Bennett’s chair “slid out from under him and he hit his head on my marble counter.” However, Crow reassured Ray that Bennett would be alright, and indeed, he recovered and enjoyed two servings of Ray’s ossobuco.
Throughout the clip, Ray spoke slowly, leading some fans to express concern over her health. One viewer speculated, “I think it’s a mini stroke,” noting a change in her appearance and voice. Another commenter urged for her to get help, while others echoed similar sentiments, suggesting she appeared intoxicated.
Despite the worried reactions, some fans defended Ray, suggesting that she was simply emotional while speaking about her late friend. Others remarked that she might not be as youthful as before but was still doing fine.
The series has faced scrutiny before, with previous clips drawing negative comments regarding her weight, makeup, and age, as well as unfounded suggestions about issues with alcohol.
Ray wrapped up her long-running talk show, “The Rachael Ray Show,” after 17 seasons in 2023. Her series “Rachael Ray in Tuscany” premiered on FYI, a lifestyle cable channel under A&E Networks, in June. A deal between the network and Ray’s production company Free Food Studios aims to develop six new shows.