The last I heard on celebrity "chef" Paula Deen was the termination of various television and endorsement deals in the wake of her inappropriate comments which some considered racist. The race and gender based discrimination lawsuit got lots of media coverage and Paula lots big bucks in the wake of all the negative publicity. When I thought about Paula Deen after the fallout, I felt bad for her and wondered how things could go so terribly wrong in such a short time.
I thought about politicians and media celebrities who say a lot worse things on a regular basis, but suffer no major consequences. Think Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck. These folks simply use hot button, offensive statement to stay in the news and to keep selling books and giving speeches at high priced dinners. Making inappropriate comments simply sell their brand and keep filling their bank accounts. In my opinion, what they do regularly is far worse than what Paula Deen suffered great penalties for doing.
Paula has kept a very low profile after all the negative media coverage, but may now be working her way back into the public view. Paula only made one appearance since her downfall. She appeared at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Houston in September. The star received tremendous support from the audience, receiving a standing ovation from her fans which brought her to tears. By the way, the lawsuit which started Paula"s downward spiral was ultimately thrown out of court.
This morning I saw Paula on the Cooking Channel show starring the Deen Boys as they prepared Thanksgiving dinner for the family, including Paula. In addition, I read an article on yahoo.com revealing that Paula is opening a store in Buffalo, N. Y. in February. The store is designed to resemble Paula's home kitchen and will offer her line of merchandise bearing her name. The day of the opening, fans will have an opportunity a cooking demo at a price of $60 per ticket. Paula will host a VIP Southern style lunch costing $250 which will include a photo opportunity and autographed cookbook, plus other goodies.
It will be interesting to see Paula claw her way back into the limelight and recapture the adoration of her many loyal fans.
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