At least when Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt decided to be media whores… there was no pretense of them being anything but media whores.
But Rachael Ray, once a respected face on the Food Network, has taken heat – and many people think she should get out of the kitchen – for selling out.
Celebrity food/travel guru Anthony Bourdain is the latest to turn up the heat on Ray over taking untold millions to star in a new Dunkin’ Donuts ad campaign.
“She’s hugely influential, particularly with children,” Anthony Bourdain says in the November issue of Outside magazine. “And then she goes around endorsing Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s like endorsing crack for kids.”
Anthony Bourdain, host of No Reservations on the Travel Channel, is never one to hold back his thoughts. The topic of Rachael Ray selling out is hardly off limits.
“I’m not a very ethical guy. I don’t have a lot of principles,” he adds. “But somehow this seems over the line. Juvenile diabetes has exploded. Half of Americans don’t have necks. And she’s up their saying, ‘Eat some […] Dunkin’ Donuts. You look great in that swimsuit, eat another donut! Evil.”
It’s true. Ray shilling for DD is like Lauren Conrad being nominated for a Best Actress Emmy or Jenna Jameson getting a similar Oscar nod.
Rachael Ray’s rep responded: “Anyone who knows Rachael and watches her on TV is aware she promotes balance and moderation, instead of living life in extremes.”
In fact, when the company announced her ad deal, Dunkin’ Donuts said it asked Ray for insight in creating what it calls its “better for you” food and beverage options … lighter fare that includes smoothies and low carb bagels.