Butter & Bigotry: One Chef's Fall From Grace
- Sara Daar
- Dec 1, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 27, 2024
Remember Paula Deen? She ruled the Southern cooking scene from around the early to mid-2000s and built an empire, from her Food Network shows to various restaurants. Known for her delicious Southern and often butter-filled dishes, Deen was a beloved figure by many.
But this level of fame wouldn't last forever. Deen's career and positive image came crashing down in 2013. Paula Deen was canceled before cancel culture was even a thing.
Taking off in the late 2010s, cancel culture is built off of the idea that we, as the people, as consumers, have the power to knock down a public figure and block them from any "prominent public platform or career," ending their cultural impact and success. Such cancellation involves the public boycotting or speaking out in large numbers against the individual in question.
Deen's cancellation began with a lawsuit filed against her by Lisa Jackson, the former general manager of one of Deen's restaurants, Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House. In court, Jackson brought to light Deen's history and pattern of racist behavior.
Not only did Deen use the n-word — a slur that she admitted "Yes, of course" to saying — but she also referred to her black employees as slaves and even made them act as slaves in some instances. Dora Charles, Deen's former main chef, shares that she was told to ring a bell when food was ready and that another black employee was ordered to wear an Aunt Jemima outfit. These orders were refused by the women due to their racist implications.
Referencing her black employees, Deen is quoted saying, "I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America … after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War … It was not only Black men, it was Black women … I would say they were slaves." Deen clearly knew the racist associations she was creating by ordering her employees to act or dress in certain ways.
Deen was also later quoted referring to black people as "these people" and "workers" in an uncovered clip where she defends old Southern practices.
In light of the lawsuit, the Food Network cut ties with Deen, putting an end to her famous show Paula's Home Cooking after 14 years of it being on air. And in 2014, Deen shut down Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House. She also lost basically all of her sponsorships.
Many news outlets, from The New York Times to People magazine, reported on the scandal at the time and many are reporting on it even now. How Deen is portrayed depends on the outlet. And she had been given opportunities on live TV, for instance, to comment on the scandal in her favor.
It seems that celebrities caught in scandals are often able to clean up their media image through some interviews or apology tweets.
When a public figure is canceled they don't always stay canceled, whether they rise back to their prior career or just find some lower success.
This came to be somewhat true for Deen. Despite her major scandal and fallen empire, the once Southern-cooking queen was able to climb her way to some sort of comeback.
She made some public statements like what she "learned" and has returned to TV. But she is definitely nowhere near the same star that she used to be.
Unlike some other public figures where the issue is more complex, Deen is a racist and deserved to be canceled and should stay canceled. Some people should not be making comebacks.
Sure, cancel culture isn't always effective and some people on social media can take it too far at times or cancel someone for an invalid reason, but there are ways to get around that. One way for people to engage more thoughtfully in online discourse is to pursue and share multiple sides of the story. It's important to be open-minded and curious, rather than believing or resharing a message immediately.
One benefit of cancel culture is that cautionary tales of sorts are created. Deen being held accountable for her racism shows others what the consequences are if they do the same. And if anything, cancel culture opens up the discussion regarding issues like the use of racial slurs and what "Southern culture" means.
Cancel culture has its pros and cons but, hey, power to the people. If only we had more power than the media and companies assisting the canceled in their rise back to the top.
Hey Sara! I thought your blog post on Paula Deen’s cancellation was incredibly informative and engaging! As a person who didn’t know of Paula Deen, you gave a clear description of who she was and what she meant to the Southern cooking scene. It’s really disheartening to hear that a notable public figure like her could make such racist remarks towards a demographic of people who pioneered Southern cooking. It is also interesting that you mentioned how people don’t always stay canceled, which is a very good point. It makes me wonder if some people should just stay canceled. I love how you finished your blog post with a helpful tip of pursuing and sharing multiple sides of the story. Based on what we have seen in cancel culture, I think it is really easy for people to jump ship whenever one party is lacking popularity. It’s important to be open-minded and curious rather than hostile. Great job Sara!
Hi Sara! First, the title of this blog post is fabulous! It’s so clever and instantly got me excited to read the rest of your post. I am not familiar with Paula Deen, but I was shocked to read the extent of her racist remarks and general lack of remorse. I think this serves as an excellent example of someone rightfully not rebounding from cancel culture–since, in class, we discussed how it always seems like none of the consequences really stick. Deen certainly didn’t just make a flippant comment, she had flawed ideology. I agree that with the prevalence of social media today, it is easier for people to clean up their image with interviews and apology tweets. I resonate with this blog post’s message about re-defining and cleaning up “Southern Culture” since that’s what my post comments on as well.
I loved this post, Sara! I never would have thought of comparing the two, but you do in such an eloquent way. I loved your voice and think you do such a great job at tying the two together. I can't wait to read more!
Hi Sara, thank you for this post!! You really touched on very specific childhood memories for me. I feel fairly certain that I saw these comics on cards at a car wash that I frequented growing up. The art style feels so nostalgic and really takes me back to a different time.
I loved how you connected the comics to your father. That relationship and connection seems very special and it really highlights the power media can have on us as we grow up. I can personally think of music and movies that my mom introduced to me as a child that have impacted my life and changed who I am as a person. As children we never expect to be changed so much by our parents but it’s really quite funny how it happens just out of nowhere.
I’m going to have to check that website out and do a deep dive on these comics! Thank you for the link and for this insightful read.
Axel Cordero
Sara, this was such a throwback! I totally forgot about The Far Side, but I actually grew up reading these cartoons as well, courtesy of my grandparents, who owned literally every volume. To be honest, I never loved them (like you said, they can often go over one's head due to their levels of absurdity) but they are definitely a nostalgic memory.
I loved the way you mentioned how these comics make you feel connected to your dad, it's so powerful how media can remind us of the people that we love. (The dialogue you included was funny too). I also admired the way you discussed how The Far Side played a role in developing your sense of humor and has been an influence to you on some subconscious level.
I thought it was great how you embedded some of the comic panels, but I would have loved to hear your opinion on specific episodes of The Far Side and whether you had any favorites / least favorites /significant ones that stood out in your memory. - Cira