Paula Deen's use of the "N"-Word

[Mizeree I2K]

Could Paula Deen's words bring down her empire?

I hope it does, because she's flat out a racist bitch.

[Kevin]

The South that long ago was a different time and culture. Most don't hold it against folks like Robert E. Lee or many of the founding fathers that they actually owned slaves. She was simply a product of the culture she grew up in. If she's now reformed, I hardly see the relevance today.

As far as the antebellum restaurant concept... a little strange? Yeah. Does it necessarily mean she's racist if she was considering an antebellum concept that actually looked antebellum? Maybe? I dunno. To her credit, the idea was never more than a discussion.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I'm not sure I would call her a racist at this point, as I do think it's what is in the heart that determines if someone is racist or not, but what I find troubling is her comment about not really knowing what offends people.

She may be from a different generation, but this is not the 50's or 60's. It is 2013. Unless she has lived her life in a bubble, I'm not sure how she can not know that word would not be offensive, regardless in my opinion, of where you are from in the U.S.

I posted that on my Facebook yesterday. I never called her a racist, just that I did not understand how she could make such a comment about not knowing what offends people. Someone else argued the point, and I've left it where it is as it was obvious she didn't read the article.

I'm not sure if it will hurt her empire. I think it took a bit of a hit last year or so when the diabetes scandal came out. This certainly would not be positive PR for her.

[sigmadiva]

She may, or may not, be a racist in the true sense of the word. But, she is definitely insensitive.

Not a smart move when you own a multi-million dollar company.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Looks like she is a no-show for the Today Show:

http://www.lex18.com/news/embattled-...WG1y54.twitter

[TonyB06]

I’ve been a Paula Deen fan for several years, so this is perplexing for me because it presents a side of her (if real) that would turn me off. I’m not generally a fan of excusing free-thinking people who hold horrid opinions simply because they were once the product of a certain culture, particularly, when they trade on their public personality/demeanor (and its origins) to advance their “brand” in the public space.

Ultimately the public will decide if she remains or falls based on this. I'll watch for her response, as will a lot of people who have previously appreciated her work.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

Unless she has lived her life in a bubble,

Wasn't she an agoraphobe who didn't leave her house for many years?

[maconmagnolia]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

I'm not sure I would call her a racist at this point, as I do think it's what is in the heart that determines if someone is racist or not, but what I find troubling is her comment about not really knowing what offends people.

She may be from a different generation, but this is not the 50's or 60's. It is 2013. Unless she has lived her life in a bubble, I'm not sure how she can not know that word would not be offensive, regardless in my opinion, of where you are from in the U.S.

I posted that on my Facebook yesterday. I never called her a racist, just that I did not understand how she could make such a comment about not knowing what offends people. Someone else argued the point, and I've left it where it is as it was obvious she didn't read the article.

From what I've gathered, though, she said it a longgg time ago. Not in 2013.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I'm sort of in awe of the Paula Deen witch hunt going on... Seriously..because Paula Deen is the only public figure to have ever said that word..like ever. At least she has tje balls to admit saying it and the error of it.

I'm sure the people throwing the stones have never uttered that word either.

For clarifications sake I'm not saying what she said 30 years ago was ok or should be glossed over but this public crucifiction is a little ridic.

Originally Posted by maconmagnolia

My opinion, which is probably an unpopular one: Past doesn't equal present. She admitted her mistake and apologized for it. I really don't see any issue anymore.. Honestly, at the time she used the word, she probably didn't know any better. She was born during a different time period.. That's how people spoke back then, as bad as that is. If she said it thirty years ago and hasn't said it since (which is what I've gathered, someone can tell me if I'm wrong), then props to her for apologizing. Unfortunately for her, she would have been better off never admitting it. If she's still saying it today.. well, that's a different issue.

Originally Posted by maconmagnolia

From what I've gathered, though, she said it a longgg time ago. Not in 2013.

This whole thing was brought to light for a deposition where the plaintiff (who is a former employee) alleges that this was ongoing.

http://gawker.com/5890872/lawsuit-cl...ey-temple-days

In one such incident, Jackson alleges that Paula said the following while planning Bubba's wedding:

Well what I would really like is a bunch of little n***ers to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around. Now, that would be a true Southern wedding wouldn't it? But we can't do that because the media would be on me about that.

See also:
http://gawker.com/paula-deen-says-of...word-514272160

In her deposition, Deen acknowledges that the discussion took place, but denies using a racial slur.

Bubba got married in 2007.

For me, it's about much more than the use of the word. She's either racist or stupid. Or both.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by agzg

This whole thing was brought to light for a deposition where the plaintiff (who is a former employee) alleges that this was ongoing.

http://gawker.com/5890872/lawsuit-cl...ey-temple-days


See also:
http://gawker.com/paula-deen-says-of...word-514272160


For me, it's about much more than the use of the word. She's either racist or stupid. Or both.

Wow if true but that is the first I've heard of that incident. What the initial major uproar seems to be about her admission and subsequent apology of using the racial slur 30 years ago. That's what I responded to in my post.

[AOII Angel]

I am less perplexed by her use of the N word (she is from the South, and I hear so many people use that word that is does not surprise me in the least, especially given her age.) than I am of her desire to hire a bunch of black men to serve at a "real" southern wedding to mimic slaves. That just goes too far for me. I have no way to explain that and make her come out looking like anything but a bigot.

[Missouri Ivy]

The waiter thing was really weird. I can see wanting to hire middle aged wait staff. They'd probably be more professional and keep your event less stressful. But the only African American wait staff? I have no idea.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I can't believe that there are people in this thread (and elsewhere) defending her. Holy hell, people, you are a white woman and use the N-word with impunity, you are a racist.

[Mizeree I2K]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I can't believe that there are people in this thread (and elsewhere) defending her. Holy hell, people, you are a white woman and use the N-word with impunity, you are a racist.

Thank you.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I can't believe that there are people in this thread (and elsewhere) defending her. Holy hell, people, you are a white woman and use the N-word with impunity, you are a racist.

I used to be good (online) friends with GreekChatter. We chatted on AIM or gchat or whatever the thing was at the time.

Once, he sent me the following message:

"Big nig"

Our friendship was over that instant.

He tried to apologize, said he meant to send it to someone else, etc etc, blah blah blah.

There is no excuse for some things. I don't care that he wasn't calling ME "nig" - he was a person in power who used the word.

I don't care one way or the other about Paula Deen. The fact that she acts so unaware and unapologetically suggests that yes, she deserves everything coming to her.