Martha Stewart Criticizes Rachael Ray's Cooking Skills

Domestic diva Martha Stewart created a tempest in a teacup recently, when she attacked the cooking skills of fellow TV show host Rachael Ray. While appearing on the show Nightline, Martha Stewart launched a salvo against popular Food Network host Rachael Ray, attacking Ray's cookbooks and her baking skills.

Martha Stewart held nothing back in her catty criticism of Rachael Ray, pronouncing Ray a mere "entertainer" and not a skilled teacher. In her opinion, Rachael Ray's cookbooks and her baking skills are not up to the standards of Martha Stewart. It appeared that Martha Stewart found Rachael Ray inferior and was not afraid to voice her views quite openly during her television interview.

In the aftermath of Stewart's remarks, headlines screamed "Martha Stewart Slams Rachael Ray" and many felt outraged that Martha Stewart would criticize Ray the way she did. My immediate reaction was deep surprise over Stewart's indiscretion and the thoughtless criticism of Rachael Ray's kitchen skills. I wondered why Martha Stewart felt the need to degrade Rachael Ray in such a public way.

Maybe it boils down to a simple case of jealousy rearing its ugly head. Martha Stewart appeared on Nightline as part of her ongoing efforts to rebuild her brand. Last year, her company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia had 100 layoffs by the end of 2008. I once was a subscriber of her magazine about holistic living called Body and Soul, but I let my subscription run out this year. I found Body and Soul just a pale imitation of what the magazine was a few years ago.

In my opinion, Martha Stewart never really reclaimed her fan base after her prison stint. And in these terrible economic times, her high end entertaining and cooking ideas may not be as appealing as those of Rachael Ray, who appears more open, and refreshingly down to earth with a more accessible cooking style.

I've read cookbooks by Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray, and I've enjoyed both. I feel that both are equally valid and there's a place for both in the cooking world. I collect all kinds of cookbooks, and I have some Martha and Rachael cookbooks sharing space on my shelf. I've never stopped to examine which is "better" but I definitely do not believe that Rachael Ray should feel inferior to Martha Stewart.

That's why I was a bit surprised by Rachael Ray's reaction to this firestorm of controversy. With her characteristic openness and positivity, Ray simply agreed with Martha, adding that she would rather eat Martha's food too! Perhaps this sums up Ray's appeal, which is definitely more humble and gracious than Martha Stewart's demeanor.

Lately, I've heard a lot about Rachael Ray's charitable work, for hunger and animal welfare. I was really impressed by recent news reports about Ray helping a soup kitchen in Ohio and bringing food to a needy community. Rachael Ray's star appears to be on the rise, and she has that popularity and brand loyalty that Martha is aiming to recapture. So it could be that Stewart feels eclipsed by this rising star of food television, and that's why she lashed out at Rachael Ray.

If Martha Stewart is looking to rebuild her fan base and boost her brand, she picked a horrible way to do it. Attacking Rachael Ray's competence looks like sour grapes; I bet Martha Stewart will lose fans and viewers over her remarks, and I can't feel sorry for her. Even though she is already trying to smooth things over by praising Ray and saying there are no hard feelings, the damage is done.

Martha Stewart should have shown some restraint and kept her feelings about Rachael Ray to herself. I doubt I'll be watching her cooking show anymore, as her thoughtless remarks have left a bad taste in my mouth.

Sources:

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/martha-and-rach-20092311

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/martha-stewart-slams-rachael-ray-20091811

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/media_companies/last_weeks_martha_stewart_living_omnimedia_layoffs_bring_years_total_to_100__102841.asp

http://news.holidash.com/2009/11/09/rachael-ray-makes-thanksgiving-brighter-for-ohio-soup-kitchen/5