Rachael Ray Reveals ‘Insulting’ Comments About Her Childless Marriage

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Rachael Ray has been opening up about her personal life as of late on her new podcast, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, and this week’s episode was no exception.

On the Tuesday, November 26 episode, the celebrity chef – who recently sparked some concerns about her health – defended her choice not to have children with her husband John Cusimano, explaining to guest Harlan Coben how much joy she finds in making a home without them.

“I love homemaking. I don’t have kids, but I love homemaking. I always found it so insulting when people say, ‘You don’t have children.’ So what, I make a nice home,” Ray, 56, bluntly stated.

The former Rachael Ray Show star also discussed how she and her Cusimano’s shared love of their own space allows them to stay connected despite their differing passions and not having children.

“John and I… we don’t have any children. We have one dog at a time, and that’s about as much as we can handle. But I love my life with John because we are 50/50, because he enjoys being on his own and I enjoy being on my own,” Ray stated in the episode.

On the November 12 episode of the podcast, Ray mentioned how her decision to not have children was one that has often brought her criticism. Speaking with guest Bob Harper, the former Biggest Loser host, Ray admitted to facing backlash for this decision over the years, reflecting on how it’s often been misunderstood. After Harper stated that he chose to focus on his dogs instead of kids, Ray agreed, and revealed, “Me too, and boy, did I get bashed for it over the decades.”

Ray married Cusimano in September 2005 after dating for several years. Ray shared that she and the lawyer turned musician have learned to give each other room. “I am wildly, wildly lucky that I have my husband. But he understands I need my space,” she explained in a previous episode of her podcast, noting that they often “stay in separate corners” of their home.

Ray also spoke candidly about the challenges that come with being in a relationship where both parties have fiery personalities. “John and I have huge screaming matches all the time,” she admitted, explaining how difficult it can be for two “hot-tempered or creative” people to calm down after a conflict.