For many individuals, Rachael Ray has performed a really massive position of their lives, and numerous her followers have been following her profession since she turned a family title within the early aughts. As such, when the longtime TV persona did not appear fairly herself in movies she shared (a minimum of, based on a few of these followers), many stated they have been involved for her. Granted, we’re undecided how a lot of it comes right down to concern … and the way a lot of it has simply been nastiness disguised because it. 

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There isn’t any query that Ray’s vibe on her cooking present has change into extra laidback. In fact, she’s at all times made her viewers really feel like they’re within the kitchen along with her. Nevertheless, from 2020 onwards, she’s invited followers into her precise kitchen — one thing that began because of COVID-19 restrictions. On the time, Ray shared in a Fb Q&A that working from residence was a double-edged sword. Requested if she was comfy with the brand new setup, she defined, “I’m, like, technically extra comfy as a result of I am sporting sweatpants and slippers.” Nevertheless, she careworn that there have been main variations. For starters, the place on the studio she could be cooking for the present’s crew and the meals financial institution, and your complete setup was extra chatty, she shared that when she was at residence, her cooking persona was very totally different. “I am very quiet, and I’ve a glass of wine in my hand, and I scrub my face, and I put my PJs on,” she stated. 

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It is fairly clear that because the setup has modified and the present has been filmed from her residence full-time, Ray has opted to stay with the customarily makeup-free, pajama-adjacent vibe. Nevertheless, like we stated, not everybody has been good about it. 

Whereas the response to Rachael Ray’s at-home cooking movies was overwhelmingly optimistic at first, the web generally is a darkish place, so it isn’t precisely stunning that criticism started rolling in pretty quickly. One factor some viewers puzzled aloud (or within the feedback part, anyway)? Whether or not Ray was consuming whereas filming. 

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In response to a enjoyable video of Ray cooking a tuna casserole as her husband, John Cusimano, filmed, quite a lot of viewers requested if she was drunk. “You are as wasted as wasted can get,” wrote one commenter. “Omg are you drunk? Typically you sound such as you’re yelling generally appears such as you’re having a soften down now you sound drunk,” commented one other. One pleasant spelling error, in the meantime, did extra to trace on the creator having had a drink or two than Ray had. “Are you druck?” they requested, shocked emoji in tow. 

It is value noting that in her Fb Q&A, Ray had stated she preferred to have a glass of wine whereas cooking at residence, and that is precisely the place she was. With that in thoughts, perhaps she had had a drink or two earlier than filming. Nevertheless, ever the loyal fanbase, not everybody was as eager to leap on the “Rachael Ray Present” star, and a few even defended her in opposition to the haters. “All these [judgmental] folks … zip it, get your personal present! @rachaelray is unbelievable!” one admirer wrote. One other did not defend a lot as level out that even when Ray had been consuming, they have been all for it. “Err physique gettin tipsy! Adore it,” they stated. Insert an inspirational quote about it being okay to not be everybody’s cup of tea, right here.

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On to the place it bought nasty, a couple of months in to the pandemic, individuals who appeared to be non-regular viewers started commenting on Rachael Ray’s Instagram cooking movies — and whereas her longtime followers had beforehand gushed over her not sporting make-up, simply as she would in her day-to-day, the newer viewers weren’t fairly as blissful about it. 

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“Love your cooking! You need to nonetheless do hair n make-up,” wrote one consumer in response to a pizza video Ray had posted to Instagram. One other was much less delicate. “DO YOU EVER COMB YOUR HAIR AND PUT MAKEUP ON!!” a troll complained. Stated troll additionally introduced up Ray’s pet food lawsuit in one other remark, although, so we’re undecided we might class them as a fan. Nevertheless, then got here the supposedly involved feedback. “I didn’t acknowledged you! Hope every little thing is okay …” one learn. As a result of nothing expresses real concern fairly like a public remark saying somebody’s appears could sign something not being okay, proper?

As with the earlier instances individuals left feedback on Ray’s (free and in addition not obligatory to observe) movies, followers of the Emmy winner got here to her protection. “Persons are severely telling her to placed on make-up as if they’ve the authority to inform her what to do or that she would even care for his or her opinion. Folks. Are. The. Worst,” ranted one among Ray’s extra loyal followers. 

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Quick-forwarding a couple of years on, Rachael Ray was nonetheless getting a mixture of each optimistic and damaging feedback on her social media. Nevertheless, by 2022, a number of the nastier voices had grown louder. Along with criticism of Ray’s look and every little thing from her hair to her weight and age, one consumer even complained that the chef appeared drained. 

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“Rachel — you are TIRED — you look drained, sound drained, and worse but, ACT drained [that slammed tray in that [oven]] — Byyye,” the irate Instagram consumer wrote in response to a tomato soup recipe. One other consumer additionally mused that she appeared unwell … whereas nonetheless extra requested if she was consuming. 

As followers of Ray would know, the TV persona had really been via lots by 2022. For starters, Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, tragically misplaced their beloved 15-year-old canine, Isaboo, who died in 2020. On high of that, additionally they misplaced their residence in a scary home fireplace a couple of months later … and a 12 months after that, their house in New York Metropolis flooded throughout Hurricane Ida. In gentle of every little thing they went via, Ray stated she was grateful for simply being alive in an interview with Additional. So yeah, perhaps she did look just a little drained by 2022. Nevertheless, we might argue that that would have been met with compassion, somewhat than disdain. 

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In 2024, Rachael Ray was nonetheless getting feedback about her well being. The chatter sparked a critical debate in her feedback part, with some expressing concern (this time it appeared real), and others declaring that if Ray had any critical well being points, she would not want social media customers to level it out to her. 

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To recap, in a September 2024 Instagram video, Ray shared a narrative in regards to the time Tony Bennett came visiting for dinner and slipped on her overly-polished ground. Ray did not conceal the truth that she was heartbroken by Bennett’s passing at age 96 the 12 months prior, and at one level within the video, her voice broke as she shared, “I miss my good friend a lot.” Sadly, some commenters seen one facet of Ray’s mouth seemingly flattening, which led to hypothesis that she could have had a stroke. Others even mused that she was coping with alcoholism and claimed that she was slurring her phrases (these could be the less-genuinely-concerned). Nevertheless, others steered it might need been as a result of she was attempting to cease her mouth from quivering as she fought again tears. “I hear NO slurring in any respect. She’s simply emotional speaking about her expensive good friend who handed away. Too many unqualified ‘Web Medical doctors’ who do not know what they’re even speaking about,” wrote one fan who got here to her protection — and actually, we do not suppose that is too far off the mark.

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Unsurprisingly, Ray has by no means addressed any of the issues — and though a number of the Instagram customers did really appear nervous about her, speculating about somebody’s well being in such an enormous method with zero remark from the individual themselves continues to be inappropriate. 

Sadly, 2025 did not result in extra understanding amongst Rachael Ray’s followers, and when the prepare dinner shared an Instagram video in honor of Mom’s Day, she was as soon as once more met with feedback about her look and perceived well being points. 

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“Rachel. Are you okay? You do not look properly,” one follower requested. One other felt the identical, writing, “Oh boy I hope she’s okay she does not look properly.” It does bear mentioning, although, that almost all of the feedback appeared to be hyping Ray up, whether or not celebrating the affect she’s had of their lives, or calling out the haters and declaring that her look should not be up for debate. One standout remark? “Folks. STOP. She is 20 years older, not sporting as a lot make-up, and presumably experiencing well being points. We become old! Be form,” wrote one fan.

It is fairly clear that even with a number of the issues expressed, Ray stays beloved amongst her fanbase, they usually’re definitely not afraid to guard her from the unending onslaught of feedback and questions on her well being. As for whether or not Ray is experiencing any sort of well being points, we’ll depart it as much as her to share about it if that’s the case. Both method, we’re wishing her nothing however the perfect — and we’ll definitely maintain tuning in. 

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