Paula Deen fired from Food Network for racial slurs

Not sure how I've missed this over the past couple of days, but apparently Paula Deen was fired from Food Network for racial slurs, and is being sued by a former employee for harrassment. In a deposition (if I'm reading it correctly), she admitted to use of the "N" word in the past (during a bank robbery, supposedly, but I doubt that's where the story ends), and paid homage to the civil war era of black men wearing white coats and black neck ties. She's being criticized for attributing her past transgressions on the era from whence she came.

I'm not even close to declaring Paula Deen as a true racist - she might be a racist, she might not - I definitely don't know her well enough to say so. But one thing is certain - she looks awful sad in these videos.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/ ... acial.html

I think (like I have always thought) that Paula Dean is just plain goofy.
I will add that I don't think there is ever an excuse to use the N word regardless of your race. It is always vulgar. And, in addition, I have grown weary of the old excuse "that's just the age I grew up in." Or " it was not said in a harmful or hateful way." I guess it never seems harmful when you aren't on the receiving end. And as far a growing up using those words without reprimand, well, well all used to poop our pants and we learned THAT wasn't such a good idea. Seriously Paula, you lived long enough to have white hair and no one ever told you it was rude and disrespectful to whip out the N word whenever you want? I'm not buying it.

We are living in a new Puritan age.

Let's just say that hopefully, I'm never deposed about various words I have used in the past.


And with respect to Paula Deen, she probably should have been canned long ago for her inauthentic, over-energetic affectation of "Y'all". If we're all gonna be offended, let's make it over something serious!

If "Puritan Age" means that the days of tolerating and accepting the subjugation of others based on biological characteristics beyond their control are no longer acceptable, then sign me up. Subtle and passive racism have been ignored or swallowed under the guise of "oh, they are just from a different time/region" for far too long.

Paula Deen is already an embarrassment to the south and to cooking, this just gives us a real and tangible excuse to minimize future exposure to her absurdity. I expect her to know better and I expect her apologies to be more sincere. She is clearly neither.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

If "Puritan Age" means that the days of tolerating and accepting the subjugation of others based on biological characteristics beyond their control are no longer acceptable, then sign me up. Subtle and passive racism have been ignored or swallowed under the guise of "oh, they are just from a different time/region" for far too long.

Does this include being interrogated about what words you used in private conversations 30 years ago?

With what the NSA is doing these days, an interrogation might not even be necessary. When only "correct" thoughts" and "correct" words are allowed, even in private, how is that not a form of Puritanism?

If "Puritan Age" means that the days of tolerating and accepting the subjugation of others based on biological characteristics beyond their control are no longer acceptable, then sign me up. Subtle and passive racism have been ignored or swallowed under the guise of "oh, they are just from a different time/region" for far too long.

Paula Deen is already an embarrassment to the south and to cooking, this just gives us a real and tangible excuse to minimize future exposure to her absurdity. I expect her to know better and I expect her apologies to be more sincere. She is clearly neither.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

+1 over and over again.

If "Puritan Age" means that the days of tolerating and accepting the subjugation of others based on biological characteristics beyond their control are no longer acceptable, then sign me up. Subtle and passive racism have been ignored or swallowed under the guise of "oh, they are just from a different time/region" for far too long.

Does this include being interrogated about what words you used in private conversations 30 years ago?

+1 From what I've read that's the case. Doesn't really seem right if that's the only time she has used it. If however she has used it publicly more recently it's an entirely different matter.

She stated that the time she used the N-word was 30 years ago, and apologized.

Then, later, it came out that (a) she has used it in a "loving way" recently (after all, her Black employees in the kitcfhens use it to each other, so why shouldn't she?), and - more importantly - (b) when planning her brother's wedding in 2007 discussed (in front of her employees) having all Black middle-aged waiters in white dinner jackets serving "like in plantation days," and whether or not she should have them tap dance in to serve and remove courses!

The second one did her in.

All this came out during depositions from a former manager's lawsuit against her and her brother for having porn on all restaurant computers, for his encouraging a sexual-infused workplace, and for racial comments and atmosphere.

Paula also said in the depositions (all of which are available on-line) that porn on computers is fine, after all that's what men do, and that jokes by definition are anti-Black, anti-Jewish, or anti-other ethnic groups, because that's what makes it a joke.

As one talking head stated, "she's a cook, not a Harvard graduate," but even so the woman just has no clue.

Andrews has it right. She would have survived a 30 year old one-time usage.

Paula Dean is rich because of her persona more than her culinary skills. She is a brand and she was good for the Food Network. When her persona became more negative than positive and she was bad for the Food Network, they dumped her. If someone else thinks that they can make money off her brand, even though diminished, they won't hesitate to put her back on TV.

Well, I met her in Savannah last year. She was lovely. She contributes to many local and worldwide charities.Excuse me folks, but I am 10 years younger than her and my grandparents from Atlanta used that word all the time and not in a derogatory way. I truly had to unlearn the word. I am blessed to have no racial prejudices in my life, but it was more ignorance than hatred back then for my family. I saw many black people working in her restaurant, as well as in her store. She could have LIED and said I never used that word. The better lesson is that we learn from our parents and generation, then select what we deem correct and acceptable and live our lives accordingly.

Well, I met her in Savannah last year. She was lovely. She contributes to many local and worldwide charities.Excuse me folks, but I am 10 years younger than her and my grandparents from Atlanta used that word all the time and not in a derogatory way. I truly had to unlearn the word. I am blessed to have no racial prejudices in my life, but it was more ignorance than hatred back then for my family. I saw many black people working in her restaurant, as well as in her store. She could have LIED and said I never used that word. The better lesson is that we learn from our parents and generation, then select what we deem correct and acceptable and live our lives accordingly.

See my original post.

The new Puritanism says you are either 100% pure or 100% evil. There can be no allowances for human complexity.

I saw this on Facebook from Chef Edward Lee:

https://www.facebook.com/chefedwardlee/ ... 0022420184

This is what he says (I hope it's acceptable to copy this here - it is open to the public) :

"Earlier this year, I shot an episode of Mrs. Deen’s show in Savannah. It was set to air this summer. It will not. Frankly, I’m quite okay with that.

In my infinite innocence, I was excited for it. I was flattered that Mrs. Deen would even ask me on her show. I felt like we connected the Old and New Southern values through a dialogue of food – albeit in light-hearted and sugar-coated cooking skits. I dare say, I felt proud. In light of all the noise that surfaced this week, I realize there is still a deep ravine between the two and the opinions of many this week was an exercise in tearing apart rather than building bridges.

Mrs. Deen was gracious, friendly and funny. Unfortunately, none of those qualities trumps racism. I am not an activist. I am just a cook who lives in the South. But my world encompasses many diverse peoples and races, and I know the hurt and the violence that can sting behind a few choice words, even said in jest.

But leaving Mrs. Deen’s foibles aside, what I was most dismayed about this week were the provocations by a number of outspoken people who over-simplified this vast swath of symbolic land called “The South.” Racist rants, dumb jokes about Southern culture and, at times, a particularly mean-sprited skewering (sorry for the pun) of Mrs. Deen herself. To say things like, “that’s just the way it’s always been” is not only inaccurate, but far worse, it is lazy.

The South that I live and travel in is one that is buoyed by diversity, acceptance, generosity and love – the people and kitchens of the American South have enriched my life with culture and respect. Does the antediluvian stains of racism exist here too? Of course it does. Just like any place where Old World values collide with progressive change, where tradition is asked to bend to modern society. So bascially any place in America. But the South that I choose to live in does not happen by chance, or by wishful thinking. It happens because people choose to participate. They choose to gather and question and communicate and include and shake hands. It takes work to build a community.

Every so often, scandals like these erupt in entertainment, fashion, politics, wherever people and cultures meet. It reminds us of the work that still needs to be done. But the first step is simply to want it. I didn’t hear a lot of that this week. To me, it’s just as easy to build bridges as it is to tear them down. It starts with a choice."

I've read the civil Complaint filed against Paula Deen, her brother Bubba Hiers and the whole "Paula Deen" enterprise. You can read it for yourself at:

http://www.atlawblog.com/wp-content/upl ... plaint.pdf

This situation is about a lot more than the use of the N-word. If half of the allegations set forth in the 33-page Complaint are true, then Ms. Deen and entire enterprise are guilty of something a lot more serious. But you judge for yourselves.

Does anyone know if the southern Indiana casino with the Deen-brand buffet has reacted to this story?