In Savannah, Many Defend Paula Deen From Critics

[n2doc]

ple lined up Saturday outside Paula Deen’s restaurant in Savannah, Ga. Many were angry that Food Network had dropped Ms. Deen.

By KIM SEVERSON

Published: June 22, 2013

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The line of Paula Deen fans waiting for her restaurant here to open grew throughout the hot, muggy morning Saturday.

They discussed what they might select from the buffet inside The Lady and Sons, her wildly popular restaurant in the heart of Savannah.

But they also talked of boycotting the Food Network, which dropped their beloved TV chef on Friday after she awkwardly apologized for having used racial slurs and for considering a plantation-themed wedding for her brother, with well-dressed black male servants.

The predicament that Ms. Deen finds herself in began when a former employee — a white woman who is now managing restaurants in Atlanta — filed a discrimination lawsuit in March 2012. She claimed that racial epithets, racist jokes and pornography on office computers were common while she managed Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, one of the restaurants in Ms. Deen’s empire. Forbes has estimated her net worth at $17 million.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/us/in-the-south-many-are-willing-to-forgive-deens-racial-misstep.html?hp

[BootinUp]

1. That sidewalk is going to crack open. nt

[malaise]

2. Looks like her fans love her butter

literally

[pscot]

7. they do tend toward the pleasingly plump

[BlueToTheBone]

33. I would say obviously obese. n/t

[Nay]

29. You know, I usually don't much notice weights in crowds, but in this picture it really stands

out, doesn't it? Nearly all of these people are at least 75 lbs. overweight.

[mnhtnbb]

3. Looks like Paula Dean fans indeed. Many could use some nutritional counseling advice

and learn something about healthy eating. Bad decisions are not limited to
use of racist language.

[Snotcicles]

31. Someone should have been there handing out free trial vouchers for BELVIQ. nt

[tularetom]

4. Okay, I'm not going to say anything

That picture speaks for itself.

[pacalo]

5. This headline/picture is worth a thousand words.

If Paula Deen's current contract included the period when she learned that she had Type 2 Diabetes, it reflected poorly on the Food Network that one of their "stars" was singing the praises of fatty foods (particularly butter) & sugar.

And Bubba...he was a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. That is why her son had that excellent program

Modifying the recipes.

Those are the ones I feel sorry for, her sons.

[pacalo]

13. As soft-hearted as I am, I can't feel sorry for them.

She's made millions of dollars, including a six-figure contract with a pharmaceutical company that produces a diabetes medication. Her sons will be wealthy one day, if they're not already.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. It's the sins of the fathers...thing

And one moved way away from momma, to the midst of Yankee land. I wish him well.

I know I am a softie until they go there.

[pacalo]

16. I hear ya...

[galileoreloaded]

6. carbohydrates kill. nt

[Lex]

8. Fat jokes, black jokes, gay jokes. All of them suck. nt

[Earth_First]

10. +1

...all this thread needs is a Chris Christie wisecrack to sum up the usual cast of characters who seem to make light of the obesity issue.

[laundry_queen]

14. Yep. No surprise. Business as usual here at DU. nt

[delrem]

17. Oh c'mon, Paula Deen promoted fat foods.

[customerserviceguy]

19. Absolutely

It's amazing to me that those who would criticize a woman for a remark about the color of a person's skin are just as ready to make wiseass remarks about the amount of a person's skin.

[Raine]

24. They're being critized because they're idiots who swallow everything that Deen promotes. nt

[BooScout]

26. Totally agree....

And I'd be willing to bet that many of the folks slamming her have also at some point in their lives used a racist remark as well....but they will deny that until the cows come home.

[Lex]

32. You read thru this thread? LOL. nt

[Zoeisright]

28. Observing that people are fat isn't a joke.

Grow up.

[Nay]

30. Indeed. Merely noting that these people are way overweight isn't a 'joke,' 'shaming' or

anything of the sort. It should give everyone pause, though, that people in this condition are standing in front of Deen's restaurant. Folks, if you aren't working in the hot southern sun 12 hours a day/6 days a week as a sharecropper, you can't eat like that.

[Raine]

9. "dscussed what they might select" ... I doubt it will be a salad. Looks ike they. eat Paula's

Recpes. lots of butter and sugar and plenty of fried food.

[Zoeisright]

12. All white.

All overweight.

All racist.

All ignorant.

How telling.

[Comrade Grumpy]

18. They're all ignorant racists? That seems a bit over the top.

[customerserviceguy]

22. Your attitude

is why we may never be able to deal with the red states again. You can't expect people in those areas who disagree with progressive ideals to respond positively to being called fat, ignorant racists.

[customerserviceguy]

20. She'll do fine

She can easily spin this as political correctness run amok. Millions of people who have used the N-word and not completely regretted it (and even some who do regret it) will buy her books, etc.

[Rex]

21. A picture is worth a thousand words.

nt.

[quaker bill]

25. Been to Savannah many times

There is always a line like that outside her restaurant. Always. Never been inside the place because there are lots of better options without the wait.