Rachael Ray’s History of Health Issues & Shocking Incidents: Full Details
Rachael Ray has got fans worried about her health after admitting she’s had “a couple of bad falls” recently, just weeks after sharing a video where she appeared to be slurring her words.
However, the celebrity cook seemed to be in good spirits on October 18 when she appeared on stage at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival to host her annual Burger Bash event (see photo above). She took to the stage with her husband, John Cusimano, and announced the winner of the fan-favorite burger competition.
The latest health concerns mark a long history of medical issues and dramatic episodes for the 56-year-old Food Network star. Here are some of the things Rachael has gone through in her life:
MUGGED TWICE IN ONE WEEK
In 1997, Ray was mugged twice by the same culprit in the foyer of her Woodside, Queens apartment in NYC. “This kid comes in behind me—next thing I know he shoves my face up against the door, jams a gun into my back and says, ‘Give me your bag.’ I flipped the top off the mace my dad had given me when I moved to New York City, spun around and started screaming,” Ray told People in a 2007 interview.
The former talk show host said the same kid returned the next week, explaining, “The whole thing was in slow motion. He dragged me down the alley and beat the crap out of me with his gun.”
After that, she moved back upstate. “Dude, I got mugged twice within one week! Wouldn’t you want to leave?” she said. “It freaked me out for a year.”
CHILDHOOD CROUP
In a 2006 interview with People, Ray explained that her signature raspy voice is due to suffering from the viral respiratory infection croup as a child. “I lose my voice a lot,” she said. “I don’t have the strongest vocal cords to begin with.”
According to Newsweek, when rumors started circulating in 2008 about Ray having throat cancer, the TV star’s rep clarified she would be undergoing “very minor surgery” to remove a benign cyst from 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,” her rep said at the time.
VOCAL THERAPY
Ahead of her vocal cord surgery, Ray underwent “vocal coaching” and “therapy” to try and alleviate her condition.
“Her doctors felt that with some vocal coaching and therapy, they could reduce the size of the cyst and have it eventually disappear,” her rep told ABC News in 2009. “She went to vocal therapy and learned techniques on how to use her voice differently.”
LAKE HOUSE FIRE
In August 2020, Ray’s home in New York State’s Lake Luzerne was destroyed in a fire. Ray, her husband, and their dog were at the house when the fire broke out, and they managed to escape unscathed.
“Everyone was able to get out safely,” Brian LaFleure, director of emergency services and fire coordinator for the county, told CNN at the time. “There were no injuries, which was good. Right now, we’re in the process of determining what the cause may be. It’s nothing suspicious, but we’re looking to determine what the cause was.”
FLOODED APARTMENT
If a house fire wasn’t enough, in September 2021, Ray’s New York City apartment got flooded as a result of Hurricane Ida. To make matters worse, she had only recently splurged lots of money getting it refurbished. She told People that the hurricane destroyed “every speaker in the ceiling, the fireplace, every seam in the wall.”
Then, when a remediation team came to assess the damage, they broke a water pipe, flooding the apartment all over again. Ray, however, wasn’t injured during the ordeal.
SLURRED SPEECH
In early September 2024, Ray posted a video on Instagram from her FYI series Rachael Ray in Tuscany. Many fans felt that Ray was slurring her speech, with some speculating she could have suffered a stroke. Ray has not addressed the concerns over the video.
A COUPLE OF BAD FALLS
In the debut episode of her I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead podcast, which premiered on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Ray revealed she’d had “a couple of bad falls in the last couple of weeks,” which has stopped her from helping her husband carry wood. Ray didn’t reveal how the falls happened or the extent of her injuries.
Conversation56 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
I wish people would stop saying “she should get checked out” what if she already has! And is choosing not to share it with the public.
108 4
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C
Absolutely. Social media has become a platform far from the politeness it was when first started. People have become so very judgmental. Is this because they have lost Christ in their lives? Makes me wonder...
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G
What do I think ? We know Rachael Ray has gone to the best doctors and knows what's going on but chooses not to share with the public, so let's respect that and just wish her well
And a little prayer by all goes a long well🙏
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G
Love and prayers to you Rachael. Have watched you and loved you for years. Dear Lord please lay hands on Rachael and heal her of all that is making her ill. Pray that she gets better really soon. In your name I also pray. Love to your family also. Am here if you just want to ever talk. I also grew up most of my life in the Adirondacks. Again love to you.
42 4
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G
Sounds like everybody needs to mind their own damn business!
37 2
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O
This is a celebrity, we, her public, should be able to find out if she's having problems. It is our business.
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G
Why are you reading this? You're not minding your business.
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O
Please don’t feel that I am saying this is for sure about what is wrong with her but I’ll share something with you. 5 years ago I was a barely functioning alcoholic drinking 3 pints of Vodka per day, I gained about 40 lbs and had swelling in the face and neck significantly as well as over all body weight change too. Now, this could just be a medical conditions as well, she appears to be retaining water in the face and neck region which is consistent with alcoholics. They haven’t diagnosed her with anything that we have heard as an illness or disease which points more to self induced issues. If it is Alcoholism they probably will not share that to her fans for fear of judgment. I normally can spot an alcoholic when I see them by appearance, (like takes one to know one) we all know that quote but it’s true! Her appearance change and the depression they spoke of could be her self medicating and now is addicted to alcohol. This is an observation, not me saying this is it. My point is reading a lot about her, her own statements and the slurring and behavior do point to Alcoholism being a possibility since no other medical conditions have been revealed, such as stroke or Autoimmune or thyroid issues. I just hope she gets the help she needs.
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G
That would be my guess
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B
Her business is not my business. Wishing you well, Rachel.
25 1
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O
You should know that certain medications, like prednisone, can cause side effects such as moon face, weight gain, and mood swings, among other things. Instead of trying to judge and diagnose others, it's important to focus on yourself. Yes, she may be famous, but that doesn't give anyone the right to judge her, spread rumors, or insult her like immature children in primary school.
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G
Leave her be. It’s hard enough to deal with issues on your own never mind in the public eye. Love you Rachel
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B
That was my thought also. Maybe a means for coping that has gotten out of hand. I wish nothing but the best for her, and hope she gets whatever help she needs. But if it is alcohol, we’ll never know.
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B
Sounds like people should mind their own business
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C
Yes, I agree with you. My oldest niece was a functioning alcoholic and had many of the same physical problems that Ray has. Cirrhosis I of live.
causes the body to be filled with liquid that has to be drained often. They can suffer from wet brain that affects speech and walking. My niece succumbed to the insidious disease at age of 52.. She left us with two beautiful Children and brother and a sister, as well as her mother and i.she referred to her children as her heart and soul 💖 🙏
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G
You have no idea what is going on . Not every unstable movement/action is related to substance abuse.
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O
Didn’t sound as though she was judging anyone. She just might have experience in the healthcare and know symptoms of a specific disease or illness. It sad these days that people can’t give opinions without saying they are judging.
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R
Good grief! So many people telling others to mind their business. Most comments I see come from a place of caring and concern. There have been times when the public have said I notice this or that and please get it checked out and it helped and even saved the person's life. Sheesh..
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C
I don't think it's judging Rachel for someone to express concern for her health even if it's a fan of hers. She's loved by many people around the world and it's nice to hear that other people besides her close friends and family care about her health. I agree that unless she and John already know what's happening to her, she should be seen by a qualified health professional to be sure that she's okay and can have the best life that she can. I pray God will be with her, John and her family and that she be well and that God's Will be done in her life. I adore you Rachel.
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C
The person is not judging her, nor spreading rumors, nor insulting her like immature children in primary school
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G
If you have nothing nice to say.... DON'T
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G
You are so rude! You have no idea what if anything is wrong with her. Shame on you.
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B
It is obvious she is taking steroids - what it is for, is not obvious.
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C
There are many other reasons why this could be happening. Please be kind.
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C
Where’s the insult?
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R
Jesus is real. He loves you even if you don't believe. Prayers 🙏. Amen
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O
I am sure she knows exactly what is wrong and chooses to keep it private. Sending Big Love and lots of prayers.
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G
I was thinking she may have had a stroke or Bell’s palsy, but really a licensed doctor should diagnose her not all these people on the Internet
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O
Could be a little Bell’s palsy
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O
My sweet dog Sparkle had Cushing . I miss her so much. Its disease I notice very well on humans and pets
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R
AMEN
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G
Don't be that guy.
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G
Alcohol. Liver failure and alcohol could explain it.
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O
Maybe if she doesn't want comments, she should keep it to herself
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P
Amen. Prayer in place of critical comments. Please.
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P
Probably none of your business. Stop speculating
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O
You should not to spread rumors until facts come out.
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R
❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏
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O
Rachel appears to have something going on …. Maybe she should be checked for Cushings disease. This disease can affect many areas in your life, including balance issues, weight gain, moon face, moods, etc. She really should be checked out by endocrinologist unless she already knows what is going on with herself.
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R
Cushings is the first thing I thought as well.
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G
WOW, that’s incredibly rude for you to accuse her of alcoholism, just because you had your own issues! A couple of relatives of mine have been sober for many years, and never had any of the issues you wrote about - No face swelling, no weight changes, no slurring of words. It is incredibly arrogant of you to think that you can identify an alcoholic because of your personal experiance! Your comment “This is an observation, not me saying this is it,” is basically, yea, you’re saying it!!!! You’re the one who posted it! You’re the one who said it… Her health issues are none of your business, so stop with your conjecture- cause that’s all it is!
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G
I think when you drink too much you fall sometimes. She always seems to have a glass of wine in her hands. Am I wrong?
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G
Could she have Lyme disease or mycotoxin illness (mold) that can occur due to exposure to water-damaged buildings?
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G
Because of who she is just saying this could be bad.Someone could take and spread it everywhere.People can be so mean.
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O
Could this be Neurological Lyme Disease or possibly one of the many co infections of Lyme? Prayers she finds healing
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C
There are plenty of people who profess to have Christ in their life and are terrible humans. Religion might offer a framework, but it does not insure or inspire proper behavior in many people, especially online. Religion does not have a good track record. But thanks for providing us with some comic relief with that comment.
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O
Cushings
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O
What an ignorant comment. YOU DON'T KNOW her life. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
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P
I'm Jewish and we are taught not to judge. We never had Christ in our life and we never will because we believe he's a fictional character like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
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P
Don't know that she hasn't had things checked out. You don't have any rights to her diagnosis ever. If you like her show watch it and if you don't just don't watch it. Speculation is a nasty demon
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P
My mom died from crushing. I was thinking the same thing.
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R
Only to a pont...maybe wish her will,send prayers 🙏
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R
I think the real Rachel Ray is dead and they replaced her with someone who does not talk like her, look like her, or act like her.
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O
Sounds like an alcohol problem
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P
It is probably alcohol related.
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G
NO!
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