Rachael was sharing a sweet memory of time she spent with Tony.
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The legendary singer died in 2023 at the age of 96, and Rachael shared a story about what happened the first time that Tony came to her home in Tuscany. She made his favorite meal, ossobuco, which is veal shanks served with braised vegetables. He loved it so much he ate two servings … but he fell and hit his head in the kitchen because she’d recently polished the floors a little too much.
Fortunately, he was OK.
“I miss my friend so much,” she said. “The most beautiful man maybe ever, and he was the biggest eater of ossobuco ever in my house.”
Rachael is known for the lively, energetic personality that she exudes on her TV shows and in the posts she shares on social media, so seeing her a bit slowed down and sounding different was jarring to some people.
“I hope she is ok …” one person commented. “She looked happy and bubbly Rachael self on Aug 9 … she looks a bit off now. Wishing her well.”
Some people believe alcohol may be to blame.
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“I love her and yes, she’s drunk,” one person wrote, while another commenter added, “OMG someone get this woman help ! She looks and acts like she has been drinking all the time. I love Rachael but she’s [so] hard to watch like this.”
Others thought the cause could be health-related.
Some of Rachael’s followers shared that they were concerned she was suffering from Bell’s palsy or had a recent stroke.
“I think it’s a mini stroke,” one wrote. “Part of her mouth seems sinking. When was this???? I haven’t seen her this makes me so sad.”
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It’s totally possible that Rachael was just becoming emotional while talking about an old friend like Tony, whom she misses, or that she’s changing as she gets older — the way we all do, of course.
Whatever’s going on (or not going on), we’re rooting for Rachael. What would we do without her recipes?
