There is no "N" in Butter

 

I was told I needed to blog at least once a week. They may change their mind after today's blog. It's not going to be a popular blog. In fact I may not be too popular with many after today's blog. And for the very first time I am going to get to click that little box up there at the top that labels it as a post that contains controversal content. Yeah me.

It all started the other day with a post on facebook by one of my contacts bemoaning the firing of Paula Deen. How could they? How could they fire the queen of butter? She had apologized for using that "N" word, that should be enough. Why punish her so severely?

So I wrote a comment on their posting and they replied back with the excuse that nobody is perfect, everybody says those words, and one needed to take in account the fact that she grew up in the South and that was just the way those old timers talk. It took me by surprise that she was using Ms. Deen's age as an excuse. Young and stupid I had heard of, many will give some leeway for those who are still inexperienced , give them some benefit of the doubt. Old and stupid as an excuse was a new one on me. One I may have to personally try out myself some day. I was itching to post a reply to them, but trying to juggle two other people in personal chat, I let her comment go. Which may have been the wisest thing to do in this case.

I have been reading with interest the amount of outrage from Paula Deen's fans directed at the Food Network for her non renewal of contract. I wondered if it was really from her admitting to using racial slurs in the past, or was it the deciding factor on whether it was time to give her the boot. There are newer shows on Southern and home cooking on the Food Network, and it may be they thought it was time for new blood. As was the case with Emeril, he had been there awhile and was suddenly let go too. Who knows?

I watched one of Paula Deen's apology videos on-line and wondered why she couldn't have said all of that on the Today show instead of blowing them off? It was posted only a short while later. Perhaps it's because she was afraid of those no holds barred questions that would be coming her way? The last time Paula was embroiled in controversy, she had already signed a deal to be spokes person for a Diabetes company, her son had a new show lined up with healthier cooking. All the ducks were in a row, everything was planned and laid out before the big news of her revealing to have diabetes.
Interesting...and quite brilliant on her marketing department to have everything covered like that. I think that was part of the problem with the Today show blow off. She couldn't control every aspect of what was going to be said...but she could in her own video.
All of this controversy and the barrage of positive Paula comments had me following a link to Scribd to read about the actual case she was involved in. Some of the comments made by people had villified the person suing Paula Deen and her company, and had already labeled her as a black disgruntled employee....AND if she was already in management position, how in the world could it be considered racist when evidently she was promoted along the way?
I love how people just assume things....one of my many eye roll moments while following this saga.
For one thing, the woman bringing the suit, is caucasian. One of things she objected to was being called "their jew girl". Wow, surprised you didn't it? It did me. It's quite a read, and I encourage everyone that has an interest in Paula Deen to read it. It's an eye opener. Is it all true? Don't know. Is it all made up by someone targeting her rich employers just to get some cash. Don't know. It does make an intriguing story line that rivals a good Faulkner novel.
You have the villian, a shrewd, loudmouthed woman at the control of the reins of an empire. Her brother, a drunk, womanizing, equally foul mouthed and lecherous jerk unable to control himself or run a business. You have the woman's two sons, spoiled boys who frequently rule the boys club that embraces the Old Southern way of life, with segregated toilets still in existence.
If just a portion of any of it is true...It's disturbing. I have no doubt the Food Network has been following everything closely. I am sure their PR people have researched and read and documented everything. An admittance by Paula Deen on using the racials slurs may have put the final nail in her coffin.
I wish I knew more of the story. When questioned by the lawyers I would like to know was it by her lawyer or by the other side? Because she gave quite a sly answer when one thinks about it. The excuse of the 60's, people not knowing any better like they do now. And her excuse about yet, using it when she was held up by a robber and later talking to her husband about it. She was sure she probably did use that word. But who can blame the poor woman? She was traumatized, robbed, a poor southern lady she can be excused in that instance.
 What I want to know is did the lawyer follow up that questions with what about now? Did she recently use that "N" word? Did she in fact call that formal employee "her Jew girl"? Did she say all those things about having all black waiters for her brother's wedding reception and if they could tap dance or whatever it is they do at those old true Southern weddings.
I'd kinda like to know. I'd kind of like to know if there is a pattern here and we see the one face of Paula Deen that is marketed to us daily with her cooking shows, restaurants, and book deals. Because that is what she is. A product being marketed to us, as is any celebrity.
I had to do another eyeroll when the headlines screamed out, "Food Network fires Paula, she responds with Thank you". Seriously,what else could she say? She has to remain marketable. She has to keep an appearance of contriteness, fraility, vulnerablity, and have people continue to feel a forgiving connection to her. She has to keep her options open. There is the cooking channel after all. There are her sons and their shows or future shows, cook books, tours, etc. to consider.
I guess I am a bit baffled on why the embracement of Paula Deen and not so much for Mel Gibson, or that guy from Seinfeld when they went off on their racists rants? Was it because one could watch or hear for themselves what was actually said? Or is it because Paula Deen is a genteel Southern woman and she appears remorseful and one feels like they have to protect the poor old gal?
I don't know. I can only read the comments, and whisper, "get a clue people". It seems to be my mantra lately. I mentally say it in my head when reading comments posted online when people fly off the handle without double checking, doing some fact finding of their own. Instead there is a mentality that we all do it, it's okay, she said sorry, doesn't matter any more. You messed up Food Network because deep down she is so nice.
She very well could be. I don't know her. As most of us don't. We see a personality  that is marketed to us. We see what they want us to see.
Some are going to argue that I just don't like Paula Deen so I am biased. Could be. She isn't my favorite. I use to watch her. Until her show seemed to become less about cooking and more about entertainment. Her channeling of Dolly Parton hair and make-up, and her agressively sexual inuendo on one of her shows called Paula's Party. It gets kinda of old after while. It gets kinda creepy after while.
Despite everything I don't think we have to worry about Paula. I think that after a bit of time, the case will be settled out of court for an unspecified amount with gag orders all around. Or it might just fall apart, money can make that happen too. I expect to find her with a new show somewhere with more ooey gooey butter cakes, so rest easy disgruntled viewers of the Food Network. It will most likely happen. You can go back to your mentality of it all being okay because everyone does it, and as long as you apologize after the fact all is forgiven.
Well maybe not everything....I don't think I can ever forgive you Paula for that recipe of fudge made with a brick of velveeta cheese that one needs to, according to the directions, blot off the excess oil on top of the newly created fudge.
Oily fudge, I draw the line at oily fudge.
Sometimes one just has to take a stand...