Rachael Ray sparked dire worry among fans when she was photographed on a rare public outing, looking completely unrecognizable and igniting new fears for her health, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The Meals in Minutes star, 57, has faced speculation about whether she has a serious medical condition, as it was revealed that Ray is making a massive return to TV with a new mega-deal.
Reclusive Ray
Ray looked so polished at the 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Ray was photographed heading into a taping for Drew Barrymore’s daytime talk show in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, October 15. The episode will air on Friday, October 17.
The quick and easy recipe pro’s face appeared heavily bloated and somewhat flushed. Ray wore minimal makeup except for bright lipstick and sported large glasses while failing to crack a smile.
The TV icon wore slim-fitting brown pants that she paired with an oversized brown leather jacket that hid the top half of her body.
It was one of the first times Ray had been photographed in public in quite some time, as she became more of a recluse since moving to Italy after her daytime TV show wrapped in 2023.
Fan Fears
Ray’s appearance in new ‘Meals in Minutes’ episodes alarmed fans.
Ray’s physical appearance didn’t go unnoticed when she shared clips from two new upcoming Meals in Minutes episodes on Monday, October 13. She appeared nearly makeup-free, as opposed to videos in August where Ray looked more camera-ready and made-up.
“Doing what I do best, making restaurant-worthy meals without the restaurant prices (or the outfit stress). Tune in Monday for more spicy kitchen chaos, lemon juice hacks, back pats and John banging the dinner bell when it’s time to grub!” she told fans while promoting the new episodes that will be airing on FYI and streaming on Hulu.
“Wow, I almost didn’t recognize her. I have not seen her in a while,” one fan gasped in the comments.
A second shared, “I hope she gets help for whatever she is going through. She does not look well.”
“Whatever she is dealing with does not discount her years of being amazing and still teaching us stuff. Thank you, Rachael!” a third user shared, while a fourth gushed, “I missed your shows! I guess we all have changed, and you look so different, but your food looks so, so good as I remembered!!”
Erratic Behavior
Ray went makeup free and didn’t look very camera ready in her latest video.
Ray made headlines in July when she had an erratic appearance at a New York City fan meet-and-greet and bottle-signing for her Staple Gin brand.
“She was acting strange and touchy-feely with the guests as she handed them baseball caps and bottles of her gin,” a source dished at the time. “She talked with everyone and gave out hugs freely, whether they wanted them or not.”
“It was the middle of the day and hours before cocktail time, but Rachael seemed to be buzzing. She was really on a roll.”
In May, there were fears for the domestic diva after she appeared to slur her words in a now-viral cooking video, which came after she admitted in 2024 to having “a couple of bad falls.”
TV Return
Ray looked healthy and chipper in a 2016 red carpet appearance.
“Those close to Rachael are so concerned,” an insider spilled at the time of the eyebrow raising video. “She has shut people out and lives a very secluded life. She seems lost, and when anyone reaches out to her, she doesn’t respond.”
The insider noted how Ray “was always so meticulous about her appearance, and it is very telling and concerning that she now just doesn’t care. It is indicative of a bigger issue.”
Fans are about to see a lot more of Ray, as she dropped the huge news on Thursday, October 17, that she and her Free Food Studios will produce 110 new episodes of her Meals in Minutes and Rachael Ray in Tuscany shows that will air A&E and FYI cable channels, as well as A+E Global Media’s Home.Made.Nation lifestyle brand.
