# Paula Deen **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 27, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049 "2013-06-27T17:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/101 "2013-06-28T23:39:33Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > What incomplete information did I pass along? > > Am I responsible for her reputation? Well I had to go back and read your comments on this thread and quite honestly, I don’t see where you have past anything along and have merely questioned my own logic and views. I apologize. I am pretty much arguing with everyone and got you confused with others. Obviously you are not responsible for her reputation, but I assume that, in general, people prefer the entire story when trashing someone. No that you have trashed anyone here. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/102 "2013-06-28T23:43:15Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Because she is a trashy piece of shit. My late mom was only three years older than she was. My dad is in his late 70’s. Neither one would have dared use the n word. I was always told it was a disgusting way to view people. > > Deen has all the class of Donald Trump. And about the same appeal. Ok, lets say, 30 years ago, there is evidence that she was a “trashy piece of shit” (not that I believe for a sec one comment in any person’s life should should be given such gravity) but does that mean she is like that now? Have you never said anything in poor taste or inappropriate? In a heated moment? In your house? ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/103 "2013-06-28T23:47:20Z")
Also, while I agree that often times in heated or inebriated circumstances our “true colors” do come to light but everyone has negative aspects, biases and prejudices. I think a person’s general inhibition and control over these thoughts need to be given credit as well. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/104 "2013-06-28T23:57:11Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > Ok, lets say, 30 years ago, there is evidence that she was a “trashy piece of shit” (not that I believe for a sec one comment in any person’s life should should be given such gravity) but does that mean she is like that now? Have you never said anything in poor taste or inappropriate? In a heated moment? In your house? You’re her, aren’t you. If so, please fire whoever usually does your makeup. Also, you are a racist. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/105 "2013-06-29T00:05:08Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > …schadenfreude…kerfuffle… Golly! You use your mouth purtier than a ten dollar whore! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/106 "2013-06-29T00:18:24Z")
> [@colander](#): > > You’re her, aren’t you. > > If so, please fire whoever usually does your makeup. Also, you are a racist. Nah, bigots all over defend their own. They have to, since no one else will. It just sucks so bad be thought of as being as lowly as they actually think of minorities, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/107 "2013-06-29T01:12:56Z")
> [@colander](#): > > You’re her, aren’t you. > > If so, please fire whoever usually does your makeup. Also, you are a racist. :dubious: Actually no, I’m not. I just don’t jump to conclusions and judge people on comments made 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/108 "2013-06-29T01:32:23Z")
Thirty years ago wasn’t The Reconstruction, you know. Thirty years ago was 1983. There was an actual negro situated as the King of Pop. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/109 "2013-06-29T02:29:23Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Thirty years ago wasn’t The Reconstruction, you know. Thirty years ago was 1983. There was an actual negro situated as the King of Pop. Plus the most recent alleged incident happened in 2007. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/110 "2013-06-29T06:18:11Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Plus the most recent alleged incident happened in 2007. Shhh, don’t use facts, you might confuse him. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/111 "2013-06-29T14:24:49Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > :dubious: > Actually no, I’m not. I just don’t jump to conclusions and judge people on comments made 30 years ago. If you really and truly believe that the only time Paula Deen made a _single_ racist comment was thirty years ago, then there’s nothing anyone can say here to convince you of anything. What a pointless conversation because I can’t honestly see how you are arguing your position in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/112 "2013-06-29T15:21:33Z")
> [@Tequila\_Party](#): > > If you really and truly believe that the only time Paula Deen made a _single_ racist comment was thirty years ago, then there’s nothing anyone can say here to convince you of anything. What a pointless conversation because I can’t honestly see how you are arguing your position in good faith. Name others. I’m going on what has been confirmed. I have no doubt that she made other racist comments. I certainly believe she holds current prejudice views. She was raised on them. I’m not saying she is or isn’t racist. I’m saying I don’t know and one racist comment made in a heated moment decades ago does not make her a racist now. I’m saying the Media is twisting the story to make her seem much more prejudice rather than presenting all the facts. And most people are eating it up like mindless idiots. Feeding the sensationalism the media thrives and they are never held responsible. In 2010, right before quitting, the plaintiff sent a [lette](http://www.wtnzfox43.com/link/550698/letter-to-paula-from-plaintiff)r to Paula and her brother praising them for what they have done for her. Where’s the headlines for that? Or the ones where the Plantiff never heard Paula say the N-word or anything discriminatory. The lawsuit is about a work environment at one of Paula’s restaurants that she doesn’t run. The plaintiff and media are using a couple of issues to blow up and make Paula seem racist. In that whole thing the media focuses on an old southern woman that was born pre-civil rights admitting to saying the N-word a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/113 "2013-06-29T15:42:18Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Plus the most recent alleged incident happened in 2007. It’s not alleged, it occurred. She said she was impressed by a southern themed restaurant where middle aged black men were servers and she would like to mimic it for her brother’s wedding but dismissed the idea because people would look at it poorly. Paula is not being sued because she is a racist. She is being sued because a restaurant she put money into allegedly has a hostile work environment. The plaintiff has found a couple of details in Paula’s life that make her seem prejudice. Quite honestly, it would seem like if she were such a racist person that treated people poorly, the plaintiff and the media could find a lot more than they have found. I guess it will be seen how many of the alleged incidents will turn out. ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/114 "2013-06-29T18:31:46Z")
**aag3981** , your opinion seems to be that since Paula is a person of a certain age, from the South, that her racism is inevitable and should be beyond criticism. Is there any reason you haven’t responded to the multiple people in this thread who are Southeners, and who are either close to Paula’s age or have parents etc that are and who reject this idea? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/115 "2013-06-29T18:36:59Z")
Because he’s an idiot? ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/116 "2013-06-29T19:02:45Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > It’s not alleged, it occurred. She said she was impressed by a southern themed restaurant where middle aged black men were servers and she would like to mimic it for her brother’s wedding but dismissed the idea because people would look at it poorly. Paula is not being sued because she is a racist. She is being sued because a restaurant she put money into allegedly has a hostile work environment. The plaintiff has found a couple of details in Paula’s life that make her seem prejudice. Quite honestly, it would seem like if she were such a racist person that treated people poorly, the plaintiff and the media could find a lot more than they have found. I guess it will be seen how many of the alleged incidents will turn out. Wise words. Is Paula Deen “prejudice”? Or is it really we who are the “prejudice” ones? “Prejudice” against openly racist, conspicuously Southern cooking show hosts whose makeup makes them look like prostitute mummies haphazardly sculpted from ricotta? It really makes you think. To lighten the mood, I’ve decided to respond to **aag3981** ’s sobering points with my favorite Paula Deen recipes. I’ll start with a time tested classic, a piquant combination of oil-based cheese food and not one, but two kinds of butter. > [@](#): > > [Paula’s classic Peanut Butter Cheese Fudge](http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/peanut-butter-cheese-fudge-recipe/index.html) > > Ingredients > > 1/2 pound sliced easy-melt cheese (recommended: Velveeta) > 1 cup (2 sticks) butter > 1 cup creamy peanut butter > 1 teaspoon vanilla extract > 1 cup chopped nuts > 2 (16-ounce) boxes confectioners’ sugar > > Directions > > Lightly spray the bottom of a 9 by 2-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt cheese and butter together, then add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and add vanilla and nuts. > > Empty confectioners’ sugar into a large bowl and pour cheese mixture over sugar. Stir until completely mixed. Candy will be very stiff. > > Using your hands, remove candy from the bowl and press evenly and firmly into the pan. Because of the amount of butter in this recipe, pat top of candy with a paper towel to remove excess oil. Place the pan in refrigerator until candy is firm. > > To serve, cut into squares. In accordance with Paula’s personal wishes, I’d like to advise readers against letting black people eat any of this fudge, although you may feel free to order them to help you make and serve it. It helps if you have them wear funny bowties. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/117 "2013-06-29T19:40:18Z")
Eeeew. That sounds even more disgusting than her “Ham, Cheese and Banana Casserole”. ---
**Author:** ![drew870mitchell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drew870mitchell/32/3946_2.png) [@drew870mitchell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drew870mitchell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/118 "2013-06-29T22:37:23Z")
Paula Deen’s name has been mud to my ears ever since she revealed her struggle with diabetes while, go figure, shilling for an insulin company. That’s the kind of naked lack of scruples that I wouldn’t believe if it was in fiction. I’m inclined to believe this is just more celebrity trash news that should be ignored, and her television and endorsement contracts should just be quietly terminated, but who better to have a career meltdown? Schadenfreude indeed. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/119 "2013-06-30T02:13:32Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Thirty years ago wasn’t The Reconstruction, you know. Thirty years ago was 1983. There was an actual negro situated as the King of Pop. Whats you point? The POTUS is a black guy. Doesn’t mean there isn’t racism today. Doesn’t mean that someone that holds prejudice views right now won’t change their minds as they grow up and learn more about the world. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/120 "2013-06-30T02:33:38Z")
> [@Myrnalene](#): > > **aag3981** , your opinion seems to be that since Paula is a person of a certain age, from the South, that her racism is inevitable and should be beyond criticism. > > Is there any reason you haven’t responded to the multiple people in this thread who are Southeners, and who are either close to Paula’s age or have parents etc that are and who reject this idea? I have never said her racism is beyond criticism. I said the media is only reporting half truths to make her seem much more racist than she maybe. And that maybe people shouldn’t be so judgmental considering the circumstances the confirmed comments have been made under, Paula Deen’s life and the way she was raised and that a lot of things being said about her are allegations. The people that have commented that are southern and Paula’s age, I believe should at least be able to understand. If they wanna act like they have never made a mistake or said anything inappropriate in a heated moment or not for that matter, I hope they remember their views if they are ever judge at the same standard. If people wanna believe all rumors or allegations lodged against someone before the courts have a chance to go through all the evidence, I hope there are never any allegations made against them. If people wanna act like racism was somehow magically wiped away by the Civil Rights Movement, I hope I never forget history so quickly. If people wanna act like levels of racism or prejudice and tolerance for it are the same today that they were yesterday, I am disappointed at the absence of progress and growth that the human race apparently now has. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049.md?page=7)