The Double Life Of Rachael Ray

She created a media empire built of talk shows, magazines and an endless number of recipes, but is Rachael Ray really as nice and bubbly as she appears on TV? Fans say yes, but her detractors claim otherwise. 

She's been accused of everything from tipping food servers poorly, to feuding with both her mentor, Oprah Winfrey, and one-time ratings rival, Martha Stewart. Haters even claim she played dirty politics during the 2008 presidential election, and that doesn't even scrape the surface. Ray's also got a buffet of family drama going on, with a husband who's been accused of infidelity and a father who's a little too friendly with the tabloids.

Clearly, none of that dirt has brought Ray down. She's still as peppy as ever, and with a reported $80 million net worth, she has every reason to be, but how much tumult is hidden by that trademark toothy smile? Let's take a look at the double life of Rachael Ray.

Although Rachael Ray has served up seemingly bipartisan recipes in her programs and publications, even crafting clever burger creations for three presidential candidates in 2016, she has also been accused of manipulating her menus to sway voters toward a particular candidate. In 2008, TMZ tore apart Ray's election night cooking guide, uncovering a so-called "devious, grassy knoll-like plot that could decide the presidency."

TMZ noted that in Ray's magazine spread, the actual recipes seemed neutral, with titles such as "Campaign Trail Mix" and "Bipartisan Salad," but the photos accompanying the dishes were allegedly laid out in favor of Democratic candidate Barack Obama over Republican candidate John McCain. In the photo spread, TMZ pointed out three instances where Obama and McCain buttons or stickers are arranged in a dining display, but in all three photos, the Obama image is clear, while the McCain image is either partially obstructed from view or blurry.

Also in 2008, Ray found herself engulfed by a controversial Dunkin' Donuts ad. According to Fox News, the problem was Ray's wardrobe, which included a black and white scarf that looked like a traditional Arab headdress. Critics attacked the accessory as having "come to symbolize Muslim extremism and terrorism." The brand said no political symbolism was intended. Ray leading a double life as a terrorist? That seems far-fetched, but the commercial was pulled off the air for good measure.

Ray and her husband, producer John Cusimano, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in 2015 by renewing their vows during a lavish ceremony in Italy. Ray gushed about the event to People magazine, painting her romance, as she always has, in a positive light. But the couple's rosy image has been tainted through the years by a barrage of tabloid reports suggesting their marriage is anything but perfect.

In 2013, the National Enquirer alleged Cusimano had visited a swingers' club in New York City and had cheated on Ray. The story was denied by Ray's camp, who said the tabloid piece was "another pack of lies printed by the National Enquirer who have been targeting John and Rachael for several years with no merit."

Rachael Ray's stock and trade has always been to relate to the average joe (and jane), with her preference for recommending quick, easy meals prepared with non-exotic food items. But behind-the-scenes, she's allegedly been a savvy media pro right from the jump.

According to Page Six, Ray's initial deal with Scripps, the parent company of Food Network, left her so much room to create a side empire and personal brand, that the company completely revamped its contracts with future talent. Speaking with the tab, an insider said, "While Food Network turned Rachael Ray into a star, she made tens of millions and Scripps got none of it. After Rachael, they made sure no talent deal would ever put them in that situation again."

That's third-party speculation, of course, but Ray's rep, Jon Rosen, actually hinted at the daytime TV star's breadth of power in a 2007 interview with The New York Times. While referencing Ray's decision to scale back some projects with Food Network to focus on her brand, Rosen also took a jab at what he called Food Network's attempt at "taking a broader stake in stars' outside activities." That's "somewhat understandable," he said, indicating that "it can be beneficial to some stars," but "in other cases, it might not work." Subtle, no?

Granted, it was obviously in Ray's best interest to negotiate the best deal for herself, but did she ruin the party for everyone that came after her?

It's hard to imagine Rachael Ray's sunny disposition coming from anything but a charmed and perfect life, but the truth is, there's some darkness behind that megawatt smile. For starters, just as Rachael's career was heating up in 2005, her father, Jim Ray, decided to dump a bucket of cold water all over it by chatting with the National Enquirer. In the shocking tell-all, Jim alleged bitter details about his divorce from Rachael's mother, claimed Rachael "was lonely at school" and "went hungry at home," and even revealed that he threatened suicide in her presence when she was a young child. Yeesh.

Then there's the tragic story of Rachael's aunt, Geraldine Scuderi, who allegedly died from a heart attack after accidentally locking herself out of Rachael's mother's house during a routine house-sitting stint. As awful as that is, the trouble really started when Rachael missed Sucderi's funeral, sparking an ugly family feud that played out — where else? — in the National Enquirer. Speaking with the tab, Scuderi's daughter (Rachael's cousin) said, "I found it very insensitive and inappropriate. It just shows how demeaning Rachael was to my family on the day we buried my mom after she died under such horrible circumstances." 

Through a rep, Rachael said she couldn't attend because of "work commit­ments" but had "paid her respects privately." Double yeesh.