Rachael Ray breaks silence after slurred speech-gate that had fans worried it could be alcohol, Bell’s palsy or a mini-stroke

Rachael Ray broke her silence on Wednesday, two days after she alarmed fans with a clip from her FYI series Rachael Ray in Tuscany in which she appeared to slur her speech.

The 56-year-old celebrity chef’s representative told TMZ She had ‘no comment’ on the matter and she tried to change the subject by places her old recipe for prawn and chorizo ​​paella, which calls for half a cup of dry sherry or white wine.

Rachael has spent the past month worrying about her imprisoned social media following, which now totals 9.2 million followers, and the way she splices her words together in videos, particularly Monday’s clip in which she recalls the moment she “almost killed” the late, great Tony Bennett.

“As I was pushing the chair back for Tony to sit down for his appetizer and appetizer, the chair slid out from under him and he hit his head on my marble counter behind him, causing him to fall to the floor,” Ray recalled.

‘I thought I had killed Tony Bennett. I thought I had killed him, literally. And his wife, Susan – so glorious – she says to me, “Rachael, he’s okay. He’ll come back up. Just leave him alone.” He survived the whole dinner. I miss my friend so much. The most beautiful man, maybe ever.’

The legendary jazz singer died last year at the age of 96 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In the comments, some expressed panic, thinking the three-time Daytime Emmy winner had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy or a mini-stroke. The majority, however, blamed alcohol.

“Drinking on film!” exclaimed Instagram user @susanjohnson6940.

“Come on girl, someone needs to sit you down and say something! Shame on you!”

Instagram user @mellysteinberg wrote: “I love her and yes she is drunk.”

“OMG someone help this woman!” Instagram user @jillhalmar commented.

“She looks and acts like she’s been drinking all the time. I love Racheal, but it’s hard to see her like this.”

Instagram user @donnagarcia1356, a 66-year-old retired nurse from Boston, wrote: “One corner of her mouth is way lower than the other. The nurse in me would have her checked for side effects of a stroke or Bell’s palsy. Please make sure you get checked? Life is just too short!”

The 56-year-old chef’s rep told TMZ she had “no comment” on the matter, and she attempted to change the subject by posting her old recipe for shrimp chorizo ​​paella, which calls for 1/2 cup of dry sherry or white wine.

Over the past month, Rachael has worried about her captive, who now has 9.2 million followers on social media, and has reiterated her words in videos, particularly Monday’s clip in which she recalls the time she “almost killed” the late, great Tony Bennett

Ray recalled, “As I pulled the chair back for Tony to sit down for his appetizers and aperitif, the chair slid out from under him and he hit his head on my marble counter behind him, and he fell to the floor. I thought I had killed Tony Bennett. I thought I had killed him, literally.”

The legendary jazz crooner (M, pictured in 2015) died last year at the age of 96 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In the comments, some people panicked, thinking the three-time Daytime Emmy winner had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy or a mild stroke, but the majority blamed alcohol (photo Jan. 31)

Instagram user @susanjohnson6940 exclaimed, “Drinking on film! Come on girl, someone needs to sit you down and say something! Shame on you!”

Rachael – who underwent vocal cord surgery in 2008 – went through a major life change last year (pictured) when she said goodbye to her eponymous talk show after 17 seasons in syndication from 2006 to 2023

Ray co-founded Free Food Studios and in January sold 50% of the company’s stock to A&E Networks, which ordered 278 new episodes of programming over the next two years (photo Feb. 25)

On September 24, the New York Times bestselling cookbook author and her husband – Cringe rocker-turned-lawyer John M. Cusimano (L) – will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary in style

“I don’t hear any ambiguities, but she tells her story with compassion,” Instagram user @ninjaconnection argued.

“She’s a good person and her vibes are good.”

Rachael, who underwent vocal cord surgery in 2008, went through a major transition last year when she said goodbye to her eponymous talk show after 17 seasons on the air from 2006 to 2023.

Ray co-founded Free Food Studios and in January 50% of the shares sold from the company to A&E Networks, which ordered 278 new episodes of the programming over the next two years.

On September 24, the New York Times bestselling author of The Cringe and her husband, rocker and attorney John M. Cusimano, will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary in style.

Rachael is also busy with her beloved dogs, her pro-Ukrainian activism and sells cookware, bakeware, ceramics and other tools on her website.