Rachael Ray is acting erratic again, say insiders, adding that the kitchen cutie has sparked fresh fears among alarmed friends and fans that she’s drinking to escape reality.
Observers noticed that the 56-year-old celebrity chef seemed “out of it” as she arrived an estimated 20 minutes late to a meet-and-greet and bottle-signing event to promote her Staple Gin in New York City, according to the Daily Mail.
“She was acting strange and touchy-feely with the guests as she handed them baseball caps and bottles of her gin,” an insider tells the National Enqurier. “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.”
But a source close to Rachael says, “This event was sold out and gave fans time with Rachael and a signed bottle of the spirit. As she has done for 30-plus years, she spent significant time with all of them. She lives off the energy of her fans and is excited to be around them. If that’s kooky, that’s Rachael.”
However, sources say that fans have good reason to worry about a tippling problem because Rachael has been known to down a sip or two even while working.
“With all the concerns about her health, maybe drinking so much isn’t a good idea,” notes the insider.
In May, fans worried after she posted a video on Instagram sharing a story about how poor she’d been when she was just starting out in New York City.
Rachael has mentioned that she had a couple of bad falls recently, and previously sparked fears when she seemed to be slurring her words while telling a story about Tony Bennett, who passed away at age 96 in 2023.
“The hope is that Rachael takes these fears seriously and sees a doctor because something is wrong whether she admits it or not,” adds the insider.
