Earlier this week, we reported that fears were growing for the health of the cooking sensation and television personality Rachael Ray, 56, after she appeared to slur her words on video. Now, a private health battle that she has faced has been revealed.
Ray Appears To Slur Her Words In New Video
Over the past month, fans have become increasingly concerned about Ray’s health after she seemed to be slurring her words in multiple videos. Speculation about a potential health struggle only increased on Monday night, when Ray posted what’s arguably her most concerning video yet. In it, she recalled the time she “almost killed” the late singer Tony Bennett, who died in July of last year after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.
“When I pulled out the chair for Tony to sit down for his starter snacks and aperitivo, the chair slid out from under him and he hit his head on my marble counter behind him, and he fell to the floor,” Ray recalled.
“I thought I killed Tony Bennett. I thought I killed him, literally,” she continued.
Fans were disturbed to find that Ray seemingly slurred her words for much of the video.
“Are you ok, Rachael?” one fan commented, with another adding, “I didn’t even realize this was her.”
“Who is this?” a third fan questioned. A fourth wrote, “Hope this is nothing other than age.”
Check out the video for yourself below.
Full Story: Rachael Ray, 56, Seen ‘Slurring’ Her Words In New Video – Fears Grow For Her Health
Ray’s Private Past Health Struggles
In the wake of this, Ray’s private past health struggles have been revealed. Known for her raspy voice, Ray has previously revealed that she’s suffered from vocal issues for most of her life.
“I lose my voice a lot,” she once admitted.
Ray said she “had a lot of croup as a kid so I don’t have the strongest vocal cords to begin with.” She added, I went to a voice doctor [who] taught me exercises for my throat and to cut back a little on the caffeine.”
In 2008, reports circulated that Ray had suffered a terrifying throat cancer scare. She attempted to deny these reports by claiming that she had only undergone “minor surgery” for a benign cyst on her vocal cord.
“Rachael is the picture of health,” her rep told People Magazine at the time. “She is having very minor surgery to remove a benign cyst on her vocal cord. It’s a common in-and-out procedure that she will have in early December and it will not adversely affect any of her daytime show or Food Network tapings.”
“[Rachael’s] totally fine,” a source close to Ray added. “It’s just something she needs to take care of. She hasn’t been feeling ill.”
Related: Rachael Ray, 56, Posts New Video After She Scared Fans With Slurred Speech, Drooping Mouth
Ray’s Life Changes
Ray underwent a major life change last year when her eponymous talk show went off the air after seventeen seasons. She had hosted the show since 2006.
“In my more than 20 plus years in television I have had 17 wonderful seasons working in daytime television with Rachael,” Ray said as she announced the end of the show. “However I’ve made the decision that it’s time for me to move on to the next exciting chapter in my broadcast career.”
The Rachael Ray Show garnered 37 Daytime Emmy nominations during its run, winning three for Outstanding Talk Show.
Ray is currently hosting her new show Rachael Ray In Tuscany, which airs weekly on FYI.
Perhaps Ray’s past documented vocal issues could be part of the cause of her apparent slurring. We can only hope that if she does have some kind of health issue, it’s not anything too serious. Please join us in saying a prayer for Ray’s health moving forward!
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