Rachael Ray Says She Suffered ‘A Couple of Bad Falls’ Amid Fan Concerns About Her Health

Rachael Ray poses during the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif., on May 5, 2019. Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Former Food Network star Rachael Ray is clearing up any speculation about her health after fans recently expressed concern about her wellbeing.

During the premiere episode of her new podcast, “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead,” the 56-year-old said she recently suffered a few accidents, which have kept her out of commission from the day-to-day activities she typically enjoys.

“I’m a homemaker. I love chores. I love being in the kitchen. I always work with my brain every day. I’m always writing something. But I really like chores. I like what people consider physical work. I like making dinner, planning dinners, making lists,” she said.

The television personality drew attention after posting a cooking video to Instagram last month. In the video, she appears to be slurring her words while preparing “ossobuco,” a tribute dish to the late Tony Bennett.

Without directly addressing the concerns, Ray defended her actions, saying she loves physical labor, like carrying wood, which led to some falls.

“I’ve had a couple of bad falls in the last couple of weeks, so I haven’t been doing that in a while,” she said.

“But I love carrying wood—how many pieces of wood did [husband John Cusimano] carry? Can I carry more? I don’t say that to John; I just say it to myself,” she said.

In the September video, Ray shares her personal experiences with Bennett, telling a story of how the singer would come to her house for dinner.

“There is definitely something off here,” wrote one Instagram user.

“You look like a totally different person than you used to,” added another.

Others were quick to assume she was either inebriated or suffering from a stroke before fans came to her defense, noting users shouldn’t be quick to judge or offer unsolicited medical advice.

“I think she momentarily got choked up as she was talking about her dear friend Tony who has passed. Rachael you are wonderful and so compassionate,” wrote one user.

Best known for her Food Network series “30 Minute Meals,” which ran for 11 seasons, Ray hosted her syndicated popular daytime talk show “Rachael Ray” until 2023, following a nearly 20-year run.

In the process, she has published dozens of cookbooks and created her own line of cookware, bakeware, and ceramics products.

Similar to the premise of her podcast, Ray says she thrives when she’s being the most productive and does not plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Her new endeavor hopes to create a “melting pot” of conversations with her favorite celebrities, chefs, artists, musicians, and others.

“From triumphs to setbacks, Rachael dives deep into the highs and lows of hard work, sharing raw, honest stories with people she knows and those she’s meeting for the first time,” reads the podcast synopsis.