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Celebrity chef Rachel Ray shared a video on Instagram on September 2 that has gone viral—but not in a good way. In the video, Ray tells a funny story about how she “almost killed” jazz great Tony Bennett during a dinner party. In the video, Ray is preparing an ossobuco recipe—braised veal shanks—iin memory of the singer, who died in July 2023 at the age of 96. The description describes the dish as “his favorite dish.” But instead of discussing the food’s story, many people expressed their concern for her in the comments section.
Although Ray’s makeover has garnered attention before, some comments have insensitively suggested that she may have been drinking too much, which is why her speech is slurred. However, others speculate about a medical condition such as Bell’s palsy, which results in partial facial paralysis, or a stroke.
https://www.instagram.com/home.made.nation?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==However, many supporters defended Ray, saying that she is simply getting emotional by remembering Bennett and that there is no disturbance in her voice. Some drew attention to the fact that the assumption made by the comments was unfair from the start. “Can we please stop acting like online therapists? This is their normal speech pattern/behavior,” one user writes, while another wonders what is going on with some of you all. It appears that Bell’s palsy may be present, but it’s really none of our business.” Ultimately, it’s important to note that Ray has opened up her kitchen—not her medicine cabinet—to the public.
What was Rachael Ray’s video really about?
Tony Bennett and Rachael Ray, Larry Busacca/Getty Images
In Rachael Ray’s Instagram post, she said Tony Bennett “almost killed her” when he came to her house, recalling that the chair she pulled out for him slipped, possibly because she went “a little overboard” in polishing the floors while preparing her home. Ray said Bennett was fine and ate two portions of everything. “I miss my friend so much,” Ray said, adding, “He’s probably the most beautiful man I’ve ever met.” The clip is a promo for an episode of Ray’s FYI Network show, “Rachael Ray in Tuscany,” in which she demonstrates how to prepare ossobuco.
Throughout his life, Bennett, a well-liked singer from the United States, made a lot of renowned acquaintances. In 2014, he even released a duet album called “Cheek to Cheek” with Lady Gaga. Ray had also known Bennett for a long time. On her program, Lady Gaga and Bennett also presented Ray with a unique vinyl record of their other collaborative album, “Love for Sale.” The identical narrative Ray told in the most recent video was referenced when she said, “I love Tony Bennett, and we’ve been great friends for many years, and I’m really grateful I didn’t kill him,” in a 2019 Milk Street interview.
Rachael Ray responds to health rumors
Rachael Ray wearing sunglasses (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)
Celebrity gossip site TMZ is notorious for exposing celebrities’s private businesses, which means it’s often at the forefront of breaking celebrity news. On September 4, after TMZ posted that Rachael Ray broke her silence about the growing speculation over her recent video, her representatives simply said, “No comment.”
Ray’s Instagram account ignored the speculation and kept things moving by posting a paella recipe on September 4. The caption read, “Break out the cast iron,” and added, “It’s time to add a little oomph to the Wednesday dinner step with a shrimp…and chorizo paella party.”
Fans in the comments section mostly gushed over the dish and ignored the rumors about Ray’s health. “Definitely going to make this for my family!!” one user commented, while another claimed, “The paella doesn’t have chorizo, but it tastes great!” While many may say that mixing seafood and meat is one of the mistakes you should avoid when making paella, some fans in the comments are questioning Ray’s presentation. Plus, they were right, generally not giving unwarranted advice about his health or appearance. One comment suggested Ray change his hair, but that user was quickly criticized. Overall, it seems fans are ready to get back to food.
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