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Paula Deen

Teresa_MN
10 years ago

Watching CNN over the last two days I could not help but notice that Paula Deen has been in the news in a big way. And now the Food Network has cancelled her show. I take that to mean her current show.

I have seen Paula's name mentioned at this forum before. I love southern cooking even though I don't do much of it myself. My best friend Loretta is married to a man from Mississippi. I eat at their house often and get my fill of southern food. Peach Bourban bread pudding is one of her delicious specialties. And I don't usually eat desserts much less make them.

A couple of things come to mind. First I am glad the network took a strong stand. In our global world intolerance should not be acceptable.

However, after the trial is out of the news will her current show turn up in re-runs? Will the FN still continue to run her two previous shows in re-runs as they are doing now? She has been a popular cook and contributor to the rise of the Food Newwork and the popularity of cooking shows. While her past behavior is not acceptable, in my opinion the current revelation in the news does not diminish her contributions to the world of cooking.

I did buy some of her cookware at Walmart for a family I sponsored for Christmas. I was impressed at the quality for the price. I wonder how far this scandal will go with regard to her other lines of business.

Have any of you tried Paula's recipes? Any thoughts on the situation?

Comments (96)

  • sushipup1
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Smithfield Hams just canned Paula.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Canned ham

  • ruthanna_gw
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The Paula Deen situation doesn't seem to have had much, if any, effect with investors in the stock of the Food Network's parent company.

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    Paul Prudhomme changed his recipes over a decade ago, and I tried watching his revised show, but he took it to an extreme that I thought was unnecessary. However, he is a good comparison and is what I thought of first. I have fond associations with Southern accents - it reminds me of some of my roommates at Rice. I no longer live in "Y'all" country, and I never used that word much even when I did, but I do not find it nearly as annoying as when people say, "What I'm going to do next is I'm going to..." instead of saying "Next I'm going to..." Or when people say "actually" twice or more in one sentence. There was a woman on the Steven and Chris Show that did that last week, and I had the change the channel because of her. Another word (not a real word) that annoys me no end is "vinegar-ette". It seems that chefs are deliberately taught improper English, and I think they should be made to take speech classes (or get speech therapy) like the class I had to take for my Interior Design degree. I do like Paula Deen, but I revise her recipes when I make them. I think her cheesecake recipe is fine as is, but I would not make it very often. I find it endearing that Paula calls her son "Son". To me, it shows motherly love. It's better than using "DS" on a forum, as "DS" can mean "son" or "sister", and it always gets me confused. Giving children numbers is even worse since pseudonymns are always an option. I had an uncle who had pseudonymns for everyone, but then he was rich, eccentric, and childless and could get away with it. Annie, I love the olive wood Paula Deen spoons you sent me!!! Larry the Cable Guy has made a career using a fake southern accent - he was born in Nebraska and has a midwestern accent in his normal voice. I wish Paula the best and hope she will be able to get this under control. Lars
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  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks sushipup. I'd been curious about Smithfield because of that companies' sale to China.

    No reason why it would, Ruthanna. FN did the right thing quickly. Stop the damage before it can affect the network.

    /t

    Edited for punctuation.

    This post was edited by triciae on Mon, Jun 24, 13 at 16:47

  • Rudebekia
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    dcarch, that's quite a revealing photo. I have no feeling for Paula Deen either way, but I was in charming Savannah last month for the first time and had quite an enjoyable meal in her restaurant. It seemed to us that the vast majority of people there were out-of-town tourists. I thought the attached shop, however, full of cheap "Paula Deen" stuff, was tacky. She may have overstayed her time in the spotlight.

    I wouldn't hold one racial slur in a time of stress against anybody. But it appears there's a more complicated history here of verbal abuses and behavior. And really, really bad publicist work: those video taped apologies certainly hurt her case.

  • chase_gw
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Never liked her, her affected accent or her food. Was truly disgusted with her hypocrisy with regard to Type 2 diabetes.

    No idea if these charges are warranted or not but I'm glad to see her gone....now if they could just figure out a way to dump Jamie Oliver

  • Lars
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I'm beginning to change my view of her as I learn more, but I would also like to know more about her accuser, Lisa Jackson - she may or may not be believable, unlike Anita Hill, who was completely believable and forthcoming despite being virtually ineffective. I'm still upset that Clarence Thomas was confirmed despite overwhelming evidence of his sexual harassment of Anita Hill. I have a feeling that Lisa Jackson is no Anita Hill and has an agenda of her own that may not be above suspicion.

    One of the reasons I liked Paula was having seen her on the Kathy Griffin Show, as Kathy would not be the type to have a bigot on her show. A friend of mine at work said that Paula and Oprah are friends and that Paula might end up on the OWN network, at least for an interview, and so I will look forward to that.

    What did change my mind about Paula was reading about the tap dancers that she wanted for her brother's wedding. It reminded me about the horrible stereotypes I heard about gay men on Moms Mabley records (from the 60s & 70s) that I had originally bought to give to my father. When I heard Moms make degrading jokes about gay men (calling them an "f" word), I wanted to destroy the records, and so I can relate to how damaging thoughtless jokes can be to those whom they degrade. My father was an "Archie Bunker" type bigot and tried to make me into one, but even as a child in the 50s growing up with segregrated schools, train stations, restrooms, and water fountains, I could see that bigotry made no sense and never believed or followed it. At one point my father told me I had too many Chicano friends and should have more white friends, but I told him that I chose my friends because of their character and that I did not care what color they were. The Chicanos where I grew up were largely Native American (mostly Comanche, I think), and were therefore very dark. I never went to school with blacks, as they were bussed to a different district. Despite this (and I am only 3 years younger than Paula), I always had respect for people of color and would cringe whenever I heard my father use disrespectful language in talking about them. I think my father was so extreme that it made it impossible for me (and my siblings) to believe or follow him. Archie's daughter did not follow his beliefs either, and I do think there may have been a turning point somewhere.

    I've never seen Jamie Oliver (that I know of), but I will be happy never to hear Rachel Ray's voice again.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Sons' perspective

    This post was edited by publickman on Tue, Jun 25, 13 at 23:29

  • justsaying
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I've always felt she was a phony...starting with the accent that just kept getting thicker and thicker over the years until she just sounded ridiculous. I have watched her occasionally over the years, though (we like her meatloaf recipe and there's no butter in it!). One day I was watching her show and she actually admitted to not trying a recipe in her own cookbook! Why would someone admit that on her own cooking show? Dumb is all that comes to mind. I am sure there are probably other cookbook writers that don't try every recipe but they sure don't admit it! Then a few years ago she was cooking somewhere and her pants fell down and it was all caught on camera. I mean, who does she think she is kidding. Then there was the diabetes issue where it was reported it took her several years to admit to because supposedly she was waiting for a large pharaceutical endorsement to come her way first (which she got). People felt she was being dishonest about that. Now she is trotting out her boys, Bobby & Jamie, to defend her. In their interview on CNN, one of them even mentioned his parents giving him pajamas when he was little with some theme to it that I can't remember that is suppose to prove she is not racial! IMO, her boys have been riding her coat tails for years and probably fear the domino effect this might have on them. Who knows, maybe this was the final straw for the Food Network to get rid of her.

  • arley_gw
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I don't care for her show. I don't like 'American Idol', either, so I don't watch either.

    It is bothersome, however, that the media chooses its targets selectively for whatever auto-da-fe they are having that week. If Ms. Deen mistreated her co-workers, that's one thing and she should be held accountable. If under duress she said something impolitic three decades ago, that's another; but it does fit the media's stereotype of white-southerners-are-racist-under-the-skin, so they're running with that. It gets people watching, irrespective of the accuracy or fairness.

    Lars, you mentioned the believability of the accuser. In a perfect world, that would be a very important part of the whole story. Remember Juanita Broaddrick? She was inteviewed by NBC about her allegations that Bill Clinton, when Attorney General of Arkansas, raped her in her hotel room, and that Hillary helped to smooth it over. I found her extremely believable. NBC sat on the story, not running the interview until after the impeachment vote was held in the Senate. I'm sure the timing was just a coincidence. Bill Clinton forces himself upon someone and the media yawns; some TV foodie maybe made a racial slur thirty years ago and she's destroyed.

    Gotta have priorities.

    This post was edited by arley on Wed, Jun 26, 13 at 11:35

  • Lars
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Here's an article on Julia Child, for comparison. She is another one who used quite a bit of butter in her recipes and who was a raging homophobe in her early life, but apparently was able to change her views in the course of her life. Nathalie Dupree, OTOH, was a Southern chef (although born in NJ), whom I found very endearing because of how accepting she was of diversity.

    I believe that attitudes and people can change.

    This post was edited by publickman on Wed, Jun 26, 13 at 12:24

  • dedtired
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hmm, as much as I dislike Paula, I wonder if she had not been a white woman if she would have been excoriated to such an extent. I read an article this morning that pointed to all the people who have said and done as much as or worse than Paula, and a lot more recently.

    Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic remarks were far more recent and just as repulsive, yet it seems that he has been forgiven somehow (not by me!).

    I do not condone what Paula said in any way, but at least this incident has got us talking about the use of racist language an just how hurtful it is.

    Paula looked like hell on the Today show this morning. She is suffering.

  • ruthanna_gw
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Here's an article on the topic from this morning's Wall Street Journal.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Paula Deen as seen by WSJ

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks Ruthanna for that article. Makes sense.

    Somehow, all this to-do with Paula in the media is centering around her use of a slur 30 years ago but that is not what the current lawsuit is concerned with.

    The suit is alleging that Paula, as CEO/owner, has allowed Bubba's restaurant to have a "hostile environment" filled with racial slurs, sexual innuendos and pornography in the workplace. Very different things.

    For instance, the woman who filed the lawsuit contends she was called, "our little Jew", because she improved finances at the restaurant compared to the previous manager. An obvious racial slur. She also contends Bubba downloaded porn onto the restaurant's computer that all employees used and that pornographic materials were passed around at staff meetings.

    Those are serious charges. Paula was rarely at this restaurant and, by her deposition, seemed to know little about how it was managed. "I don't know" is not a good legal defense. She's the CEO of Paula Deen Enterprises and the buck stops at her desk.

    That's what needs to be decided...was/is there such an environment at Bubba's? If so, does it rise to being a "hostile environment" for employees?

    Paula's deposition, as I read it, left me with the impression it could be accurate and that Paula doesn't see anything wrong and from a business perspective Paula seemed oblivious to what was happening in parts of her empire. She said herself that she was only in Savannah about half the year and didn't think she'd been in Bubba's in 5 years.

    The media has focused on the 30-year old racial slur because it's headline material and how a business is run is boring to many people, IMO.

    /tricia

  • bulldinkie
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I wrote food network a letter and told them how sick I was of her fake accent,the laugh,mispronouncing of words.If Imwatching say chopped which I love...and she comes on I cant change thechannel fast enough..Im glad shes done

  • Teresa_MN
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I see on CNN that Walmart has decided to end their relationship with Paula.

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Caesar's Entertainment (Harrah's) dropped Paula today also. She had restaurants in 4 of their casinos.

    /t

  • Solsthumper
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Arley, I'm with you.

    I do not condone Paula Deen's behavior, nor do I have any ill will towards her (except perhaps for the sudden urge to douse my head in alcohol whenever my ears pick up on her acksint).

    But, for me anyway, that's no reason to see Paula burn at the stake. Or anyone else, for that matter.

    It's a shame though, that the lady hawked Smithfield hams for years, only to take one to the face, literally.

    And what I find most ironic of all (Drum Roll, please) is that Walmart is now dropping her too!

    When in the hell did Walmart acquire a conscience?

    Sol

  • bbstx
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Food historian Michael Twitty's open letter to Paula Deen is linked below. Food for thought...

    Here is a link that might be useful: Afroculinaria June 25 2013

  • foodonastump
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks bbstx, interesting commentary from - did I get this right - a gay black Jew? He's gotta see discrimination coming at him no matter which way he turns! Definitely interesting food for thought. Of course once again he, like most everyone else seizing opportunity from headline news, seems to miss the simple point that the root of the issue is a purported hostile work environment. Kind of interesting that he spelled out the N-word but felt the need to hyphenate God. Just an observation.

    This post was edited by foodonastump on Wed, Jun 26, 13 at 21:36

  • daisyinga
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Kind of interesting that he spelled out the N-word but felt the need to hyphenate God. Just an observation.

    I'm not Jewish, but I have Jewish friends who hyphenate God that way. It's my understanding they do it out of reverence and respect. So I'm not surprised that he would spell out the n word but not spell out God. Even though I would do it the other way around - spell out God but not the other word - I like the way Michael Twitty does it. It kind of relegates the n word to the dustbin of petty garbage words, not worthy of distinction.

  • foodonastump
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks Daisy - I'm barely awake yet and I already learned something new today! I've seen that done before, on this forum in fact, and it's always struck me as odd that someone would feel the need to "bleep" it out like a curse. Now I know better.

  • maggie2094
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Lars, that is a wonderful point to make and people can truly evolve and change. I loved Natlie Dupree, too! Thanks for reminding me of her.

    Sadly, It seems Paula cooked her own goose and not understanding some of the comparisons being made. No one else is to blame. Who know we build people up and knock them down all the time. Depending on the lawsuit, who knows where she will be in the future. We also love a come back.

  • Lars
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I believe Paula when she claims that she was a product of her environment, which went okay until it wasn't okay. So she got away with it for a long time and was lulled into a false sense of security until someone called her on it. Therefore it is true that the environment is largely to blame, but that environment needs to change, and to the extent that she can help change that environment, she deserves credit. It's sad that she did not recognize the need to change this environment sooner, and so she was lazy in this regard. Some people need a slap in the face to recognize that what they are allowing is hateful and degrading to others, even if they do not intentionally want to be hateful or degrading. Many times the people who are being degraded do not feel that they are capable of defending themselves against someone whom they view as being so much more powerful. That has never deterred me, but it might have that effect on others.

    Lars

  • mtnester
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Daisy is correct; the name is hyphenated out of reverence and respect. In fact, my Orthodox friends don't even say or write "G-d" but use the Hebrew term "HaShem" (the Name) -- or better yet, H' -- to avoid using the word in any context other than prayer.

    Back on topic: I have never watched Paula Deen's shows or used her recipes or products. I read the deposition, and although I didn't find a "smoking gun" example of overt racist behavior in the workplace, there were nuances that reflected her attitudes (e.g., her description of the black waiters at an antebellum-style restaurant who were classy and "impressive," and therefore NOT "N's").

    There was also a story about a black employee, Big Will, being questioned about being physically shaken by her brother Bubba; the questioning took place while Bubba was present and resting his hand on the employee's shoulder--not-so-subtle intimidation. Of course, Big Will confirmed Bubba’s version of the incident.

    Paula didn’t deny that she knew about charges that Bubba had stolen money from his own company (the business manager who complained to her was subsequently given a payoff, er, raise), and she was told that he told off-color jokes and showed porn at employee meetings. She was aware of his alcohol and cocaine problems but brushed them off. I would like to have seen her brother’s deposition about these matters, because it sounds like Paula “looked the other way” and didn’t see, hear, or recall very much.

    Sue

  • Teresa_MN
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Paula has now been dropped by Target and Novo Nordisk (the diabetes drug company).

    I would say her appearance with Matt Lauer yesterday may have worked against her.

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I rather think the corporations involved with Paula were looking for contriteness and a professional apology from her. Rather, Paula talked about herself and the woes she has suffered in the past week, crying and tried to come across as a victim. It was decidedly unprofessional.

    I'm assuming Paula has spoken with these various corporation's executives over the past few days. If she spoke with them as she did with Matt Lauer - sorta hard to envision her as an in control executive officer of a multi-million dollar enterprise.

    What's really sad, to me, is Paula just doesn't seem to get it.

  • beachlily z9a
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    There are more troubling things going on than this one. It's just easier to be consumed with the Paula Deen controversy. She doesn't deserve the attention. This morning one of her books was rated #1 on Amazon. I just don't get that.

  • Teresa_MN
    Original Author
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I don't understand why she chose the words she did yesterday on Matt Lauer. "I is what I is" is NOT what people are looking for at his point.

    I too saw on the news that her cookbook sales have gone through the roof. Bizarre!

    I wonder if Paula will take Michael Twitty up on his offer to cook with him at his event. If she wants to get back in the game that may be a starting point. That was a very good article.

    I have never ending weeds in my garden. That is the biggest fish I've got to fry at the moment.

  • arley_gw
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Teresa, there's no accounting for some phenomena like the cookbook sales taking off.

    Right after the OJ Simpson slow motion chase, sales of that model of Bronco went up, too.

    This post was edited by arley on Thu, Jun 27, 13 at 16:44

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Lots of news this week. Court decisions, trials, indictments, financial, and...Paula.

    Just heard on Wolf Blitzer (CNN) that QVC is cutting Paula also but left a window cracked open. Googled and found this:

    UPDATE, 3 PM: QVC CEO Mike George says in a blog post that “for now” Paula Deen “won’t be appearing on any upcoming broadcasts and we will phase out her product assortment on our online sales channels over the next few months.” The site offers a Deen-branded line of cookware. The shopping channel chief adds that “People deserve second chances. And we always strive to do the right thing.”

    Here is a link that might be useful: QVC

  • texasredhead
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    How about that wonderful black quarter back for Philadelphia that spent time in prison for killing dogs and the NFL couldn't forgive him fast enough. Talk about a double standard.

  • aliceinmd
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    From CBS News this afternoon:
    Paula Deen's upcoming cookbook, currently the No. 1 seller on Amazon.com, has been dropped by its publisher.

  • texasredhead
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    She would be forgiven had she killed dogs!!!!

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Michael Vick spent 21 months incarcerated and another 2 in home confinement. He lost millions and ended up filing for bankruptcy. Mike served his criminal punishment and continues today to suffer public distain from many. Mike also gives considerable time/money now to educate against dog fighting.

    I don't imagine Paula will pay nearly as dear a price - nor should she.

    /tricia

    Here is a link that might be useful: Michael Vick

  • gengenz
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    This is interesting, since it seems to Me, that there are a lot of reasons for this entire thing, in addition to Paula Deen's behavior, possibly other reasons that have not been 'aired'. I don't watch Her, and have little interest in what She does. She should sometimes keep Her mouth shut. I am almost 80 years old.. I have 'seen' and heard racial tags,and descriptions for almost any thing any human chooses to do, and for their race. Whether it is Jewish, Polish, Italian, Irish, Indian, Northern, Southern, or any other color or mix of colors or race. I remember when I was a child, I realized that whites and blacks, were 'different' I grew up in the South, I had never seen a 'colored' person, until I was about 8 years old, If I had any of the people whom I had heard a slang name about them, and they had pointed a gun at My head, I might have used more insulting names for them, than they were used to hearing. Maybe not be proud of it, but if they were thinking of shooting Me, I wouldn't be sorry either. gengenz

  • annie1992
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    As usually happens with the media, the information we receive is skewed toward what they want us to know or hear.

    The allegation is not that Paula used a single racial slur. The employee who is suing, incidentally, is white. She (and other employees) allege that black employees were paid less, made to pick up their checks at the back door, made to use the back entrance and use the bathroom in the back while white employees were allowed to use the customer restrooms in the front and come in the front door. Paula admits that she knew Bubba was making sexual references and telling inappropriate jokes, and explained it by saying "we all said things we should not have said".

    Can Paula make a comeback?. Maybe, but only if she shuts up for a while. It worked for Martha Stewart (another person I don't care much about, but a better comparison than MIchael Vick, I think). She was convicted, went to prison, things were pretty quiet. She got out, went quietly back to work and now people seem to have forgiven or forgotten her indiscretions, as evidenced by her association with Macy's, etc.

    If Paula would stop portraying herself as the helpless victim on a constant basis and buck up, she might actually have a chance of redemption in the eyes of the public. Well, she would also have to change her attitudes and actions to provide an equal and fair employment atmosphere for everyone, which she may not be capable or willing to do.

    Annie

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    'Can Paula make a comeback?. Maybe, but only if she shuts up for a while.'

    Annie, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I cannot believe she ended her Matt Lauer opportunity with, 'I is what I is', the punch line from a racial joke.

    I'm convinced Paula is so steeped in her ways she needs to spend some time with a cultural awareness educator before trying for a comeback. She's just clueless.

    /tricia

    Here is a link that might be useful: Racial joke

  • Olychick
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I just read this and don't think it's been linked before here...I apologize if I missed it above....it pretty much sums up what I feel about this whole situation.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Janus Adams open letter to Paula Deen

  • colleenoz
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I can't get over the claim, "Slaves were treated just like family members". Really??? Even if they weren't beaten, sexually abused or worse, then family members who were made to work all the daylight hours; housed, clothed and fed in a substandard fashion; denied literacy; and who could be bought and sold at will? Glad my family didn't treat each other like that.

  • dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    July 4th is upon us.

    Thomas Jefferson, who coincidentally died on July 4th, 1826, was the author of the "Declaration Of Independence"

    In it, he wrote, “------ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.---“

    Yet, Jefferson owned 200 slaves.

    dcarch

  • ann_t
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If even half of what the Deen's have been accused of is true, Paula won't be making a come back any time soon.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Jackson Vs Deen Complaint

  • triciae
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    This was on Bloomberg.com this morning. I think it's a good article. It lays the whole situation out including WHY Paula's business is floundering. Most, if not all, of the other coverage I've seen has focused on Paula's 30-year old remarks. Bloomberg has addressed Bubba's role in the controversy.

    I'd never heard of the southern country TV station Bloomberg mentions as it's unavailable here in CT. Interesting that Paula's shows are still on their schedule thru July 15.

    /tricia

    Here is a link that might be useful: Bloomberg's take on Paula

  • wintercat_gw
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Tricia - thank you for posting the link to such an interesting article.

    "A look at the rise and fall of Paula Deen Enterprises demonstrates the particular perils of building a business empire based on the distillation and heavy promotion of one person’s life story."

    So apt. If the mall is the new Temple, one must populate it with saints that turn getting and spending into a comfortable religion. I sometimes wonder what people like more: worshipping an idol or lynching it. Can't stand the sight of a lynch, no matter who's getting lynched. It's not always out of sympathy for the lynched. It's that the lynchers are just as scary if not scarier.

  • stir_fryi SE Mich
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My take on the whole thing is that Paula's brother was always a time bomb waiting to explode but he is the only family she has (outside her husband and kids) and she feels she is his protector.

    I haven't seen anything she personally did or say rise to level to label her a "racist".

  • bbstx
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    When reading the link to the Complaint in Jackson v. Deen, please remember that a Complaint (in the legal sense) is no adjudication of liability. As one of my professors used to say, "you can sue the Bishop of Boston for bastardy," meaning that you can sue anyone for anything. Proving it is a different story.

    I have no opinion on this suit one way or the other. I'm just posting cautionary note.

  • sandy808
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My husband and I got rid of our TV about 5 years ago and do not regret the decision at all. We got tired of the media tainting, and in many cases, lying about most of what comes out of their mouths. We also got sick and tired of the poor quality of the shows and all the ads. We would rather spend time conversing with each other or just relax reading good books, or having a nice glass of wine on our porch.

    That said, we don't live in a bubble and do know what is going on around us. I feel this whole Paula Deen thing is a circus and totally ridiculous, as most of these type of things are. I've never watched her shows, or looked at any of her recipes, simply because I am not interested. I'd rather be cooking my own meals or gardening than sitting in front of a T.V. In other words, I consider life too short to care about Paula Deen.

    We now live in a society where people want to lynch someone on hearsay, which is exactly what the media coverage is causing and doing, or ancient history, yet politicians do not pay much price for some pretty disgusting behavior.

    The fact is, I'm betting that despite the fact that most people here are caring, non racist people, not one of us can claim to NEVER having made a less than nice remark, calling someone else a name, or done something unkind. And that goes for the people that are the first to complain they are being slurred. Just because someone makes an accusation does not make it fact. I guess this country hasn't grasped the whole innocent till proven guilty thing.

    I believe we should still have the right in this country to speak and say whatever we want, (but not abuse someone) particularly in the privacy of our homes. If someone says something nasty then that is a reflection on them, and upon hearing such things one can choose to walk away from that person, or can say something to them about it. Life moves on. Saying a nasty thing 30 years ago and being penalized for it now is just ridiculous. Give me a break. There are worse things to deal with these days, and wasting court time on something said in the past is absolutely ridiculous.

    Food Network has a right to fire anyone they choose to, and Smithfield and Walmart can do business as they wish as well. Frankly, I don't do business with any of the above anyway, and all they are showing is that they don't grasp the concept of innocent till proven guilty either. It does not make me admire them.

    As far as Paula Deen saying the thing about a "plantation wedding", has it ever crossed anyone's minds that it might have been a compliment rather than a slur? Maybe it was a slur, but maybe it wasn't. I will tell you that "white" people are slurred just as much these days. Why isn't someone getting worked up over that?

    Choosing to not watch Paula Deen because she is irritating, or you don't like her recipes is fine. However, judging her without really knowing the facts, or having heard in person the context of how something was actually said, is the only way to make a fair judgement. I also question why a former employee would wait so long to make a complaint about Paula Deen. Normal people do something immediately.

    It is not O.K. to bully, hurt, or discriminate against someone else. Ever. Period. But what someone chooses to say or discuss with a spouse, a family member, or a friend is no one else's business. Maybe Paula Deen isn't a nice person, or she may truly be a wonderful person....I have no way of knowing that as I have never had any contact with her. Either way, it does not belong in court as a court case.

    I am also wondering what all the demonizing of certain foods is all about in this country. Does everyone really blindly believe everything they are told, just because it was said? I guess so. Real farm butter, lard, grass fed beef, and free range pork, celtic sea salt, and whole milk from organically and locally raised farms is extremely healthy. It's all about feeling satisfied with your food, and therefore naturally practice portion control without thinking about it.

    My husband and I are "older" and we eat this way after obtaining the book "Nourishing Traditions", and also looking into what the Weston Price Foundation has to offer. We are both fit, healthy, and on NO medications whatsoever. And we eat grass fed raw butter lavishly, particularly on a nice grass fed steak or whole grain bread that I make from grain I grind myself. Consider maybe it's not the food itself causing the problems, but rather what "they" are doing to it before it hits the grocery shelves? I haven't bought a mix or anything processed in years. My husband and I have noticed that on the rare instance we eat out that we feel ill afterwards now.

    Blaming Paula Deen for obesity is absurd. No one is forcing anyone to eat her food in her restaurant. It is not the restaurant, or even butter that is making these people overweight. It's their whole lifestyle.

    I usually don't respond to threads like this, but this time it got my dander up a bit. Maybe people should spend more time on important things, like the relationships in their lives and their hobbies, and less time on Paula Deen.

  • deeebert
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Sandy 808 Hear Hear!!! I agree with you wholeheartedly

  • annie1992
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Again, the court case is not over racial slurs, it's over whether or not a hostile work environment existed or continues to exist, causing the Plaintiff to quit/be fired/otherwise leave her employment unlawfully. That IS "worth court time".

    Whether she did or did not is up to the courts to decide, but the media is trying her in their own bully pulpit for making a racial slur. That particular statement is not part of the court case, other than she was asked at deposition and answered. She is not being sued for that, she's being sued for alleged violations of Federal Labor Law. Whether she is found guilty remains the job of the Courts.

    Annie

  • dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    "----it's over whether or not a hostile work environment existed or continues to exist, causing the Plaintiff to quit/be fired/otherwise leave her employment unlawfully. ---"

    I think the food business world is a tough world. I don't know if any food business is relaxing, high paying and not pressurized. Screaming, yelling, cursing are pretty normal stuff.

    dcarch

  • annie1992
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    That's probably true, dcarch, but those are not the allegations made in the lawsuit. The allegations include disparate treatment and salary for different employees based on a protected class (which is illegal itself) and that sexual innuendo and conversation was common and tolerated, creating a hostile work environment. Those things are most decidedly prohibited by Federal Labor Law and have nothing to do with long hours, low pay, stressful work situations, etc.

    A person is presumed innocent until found guilty, but everyone has a right to decide whether to support a person, their actions or their lifestyle, regardless of the findings of the Court. If found guilty, then the appropriate punishments will be decided, but that will not include any kind of public business reputation. That is for each person to decide for themselves, hopefully based on fact and not on media sensationalism.

    Annie

  • jvanderh
    10 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I don't think the lawsuit was specifically about it, but in the deposition transcript she talks about hiring all black event staff so her son could have a "real plantation wedding." IMO that is a WHOLE different ball of wax than 'oh I uttered a racial slur once after being held up at gunpoint' and probably deserves whatever punishment she gets.