Hi- I just found out that Paula Deen has dropped out of the New York City Food and Wine Festival, which is sponsored by the Food Network. According to eater though, the Food Network is planning on bringing Paula back in a year or two to maybe make some guest appearances.

Paula's son Bobby is a contestant on Iron Chef America, which is being taped right now. Here is all the info on all this.

http://eater.com/archives/2013/07/24/pa ... n-chef.php


Hope this helps, Nancy

Deen is surely not unique in mistreating her employees, but wow:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/pa ... -bond.html

Hi- I read the article, and I cannot believe Paula treated her that way too, and she put up with it for 22 years. It is interesting that it was not until she and two other employees went to the EEOC to file a claim, that Paula finally gave Ms. Charles the raise she deserved. All of a sudden she was told that she would be getting a promotion, and her salary would be increased to $71,000 a year. I am just surprised that she did the interview though, because when the interview took place she was still working at the restaurant, and no apparently Ms. Charles and Paula are not speaking to each other, and Ms. Charles is out of a job. Hopefully one of Paula's competitors in Savannah offers her a job, or somebody gives her some start up money, so she can start her own restaurant. I can see why she stuck it out so long there though. She is 59 years old, and only has a 10th grade education. There is a lot of age discrimination at play unfortunately.

Apparently when Rainbow PUSH interviewed present and former employees of Paula, they had some people that did not want to talk to them, and some people that said that they were treated OK, and some other people who said that they suffered discrimination at the restaurant.

Apparently Paula asked Ms. Charles to go outside every day at the restaurant, and ring a dinner bell, while being dressed in an Aunt Jemima costume, She refused.

And in the end Deen just hired someone else to do it after all, and even sold postcards depicting the African-American woman ringing the dinner bell.

I don't know what is more disgusting, the way Deen's treated people, or her (possible) obliviousness to what she's done wrong.

Vitesse98 wrote:And in the end Deen just hired someone else to do it after all, and even sold postcards depicting the African-American woman ringing the dinner bell.

I don't know what is more disgusting, the way Deen's treated people, or her (possible) obliviousness to what she's done wrong.

. . . or the likelihood that Deen's attitude is representative of one that is widely and commonly held amongst a huge segment of the population. I find this possibility extremely depressing.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Vitesse98 wrote:And in the end Deen just hired someone else to do it after all, and even sold postcards depicting the African-American woman ringing the dinner bell.

I don't know what is more disgusting, the way Deen's treated people, or her (possible) obliviousness to what she's done wrong.

. . . or the likelihood that Deen's attitude is representative of one that is widely and commonly held amongst a huge segment of the population. I find this possibility extremely depressing.

=R=

Just sayin -
Any time someone wants to tell someone that "racism doesn't exist anymore," please remember, that just because you don't experience racism, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The "it doesn't exist anymore" statement really burns my britches. I can't speak for all African Americans or other people of color, but I can say this: I don't know any that do not get pretty offended by the statement "racism doesn't exist anymore." The connotation is much, much, MUCH, deeper than the fact that the statement is simply incorrect. This is a board about culinary exploits, and not a board about race relations, I know, but when this is all said and done, and it's swept under the rug, please remember, this is just ONE instance that you get to hear about, and this one instance has been happening for years by a high profile person who doesn't really seem to understand what the issue is. The debate about why she doesn't seem to understand what the issue is is GREAT bar discussion over drinks, imo. The way history repeats itself in so many ways is very interesting to me.

I'm not saying everything's hunky dory on the "America is racist" front, but can we take some encouragement from the fact that Paula Deen's racism has been so thoroughly condemned, and that she's paying so high a price for it in terms of her pocketbook and in terms of her pariah status? I think we should. I think Paula is getting no different than she deserves, and I think it means something that she's getting it.

I guess you can say this, but it would mean totally disregarding the comment section of EVERY article and FB post I've seen. I feel just the opposite--I am saddened to see just how many folks DON'T condemn what she did/said/represents and, in fact support her and think the whole thing is overblown. Then again, I hail from the south, and I really shouldn't be shocked by any of it. I guess it was always more like wishful thinking.

Hi- When Paula's new cookbook was #1 on Amazon before the publisher decided to pull it, there was a lot of discussions on Amazon among Paula's supporters that they can not understand why she is being raked over the coals for something that happened 30 years ago. I posted on one of the discussions about the fact that I had read the case, and it was not just about the word that she admitted using 30 years ago, and I went into detail about why Paula was being sued. I happened to mention that the person suing her by the way was white, and one of Paula's supporters took offense at that remark. I just went on Amazon to try and find my message again, and my message is still up, but the woman who chastised me for saying that deleted all her messages.

I think most of the people on the foodie sites are much more critical of Paula than people on the general sites. There is a facebook page that was started by one of Paula's supporters who has dug up all kinds of dirt on Ms. Jackson. I don't know how much of it is true. Thanks, Nancy

Paula Deen Off the Hook in Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Claim

The scandal-plagued celebrity chef, who saw her brand crumble around her like a stale crumpet earlier this year after she admitted to using the N-word, caught a break in court Monday, after U.S. District Court judge William T. Moore Jr. dismissed the racial discrimination claim brought against her by former restaurant employee Lisa Jackson.

Jackson still has sexual harassment claims in her lawsuit.

=R=

The dismissal is all right with me, because I'm satisfied that Deen disgraced herself so thoroughly by her use of the N-word that whatever could happen in a court of law would be a matter of diminishing returns (in the disgrace department).

And I think that the occasional N-bomb, last recorded years ago, does not come close to earning the level of scorn directed towards her. I think that the hysterical outrage directed at her is disproportionate retribution for a relatively minor offense.

The sexual harassment suit seems, to my lay eyes, firmly grounded in the rule of law and something which she deservedly faces justice, and not angry mob vengeance. I'm also disturbed because the racial discrimination lawsuit was evidently filed tactically in an attempt to poison the well long before the trial even began.

Independent George wrote:And I think that the occasional N-bomb, last recorded years ago, does not come close to earning the level of scorn directed towards her. I think that the hysterical outrage directed at her is disproportionate retribution for a relatively minor offense.

The sexual harassment suit seems, to my lay eyes, firmly grounded in the rule of law and something which she deservedly faces justice, and not angry mob vengeance. I'm also disturbed because the racial discrimination lawsuit was evidently filed tactically in an attempt to poison the well long before the trial even began.

The N-bomb wasn't the issue, it was her complete lack of perspective on it.

Not immediately distancing yourself from perceived or real bad behavior takes a toll on people's perception of your character (e.g. Jerry Sandusky's hemming and hawing on Bob Costas' questions about child molestation).

Hi- Does anybody have any idea how much she is suing for in the sexual harassment case? I don't think dropping the racial discrimination case is going to help revive Paula's career. I think the damage is already done. I was in Carson's yesterday, and they were still selling some of Paula's kitchen items, although at a deeply reduced price, and no I did not buy any of her stuff

Hi- Here is an interesting piece on the NPR website about the ripple effect that has occurred as a result of Paula Deen's problems. Some of the comments are interesting too. A few of Paula's supporters have posted there.

Here is a link to the article.

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/15/212050962 ... she-doesnt

The article points out that many people are affected if she cannot recover.

Hope this helps, Nancy

Well, apparently, it's all over now . . .

The discrimination lawsuit against Paula Deen and her brother has been "amicably resolved," the plaintiff's attorney told TheWrap.

"The matter has been amicably resolved," said attorney Matthew Billips, who has been representing former Deen employee Lisa T. Jackson in the suit. "I have said all I can say."

And with that came an anticlimactic end to a lawsuit that toppled Deen's cooking empire. Billips would not say if Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, the defendants in the case, agreed to pay any settlement.

Paula Deen Case 'Amicably Resolved,' Attorney Says

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Well, apparently, it's all over now . . .

The discrimination lawsuit against Paula Deen and her brother has been "amicably resolved," the plaintiff's attorney told TheWrap.

"The matter has been amicably resolved," said attorney Matthew Billips, who has been representing former Deen employee Lisa T. Jackson in the suit. "I have said all I can say."

And with that came an anticlimactic end to a lawsuit that toppled Deen's cooking empire. Billips would not say if Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, the defendants in the case, agreed to pay any settlement.

Paula Deen Case 'Amicably Resolved,' Attorney Says

=R=

It's also been reported that Billips will be facing sanctions for his handling of the case, including the racial component when he knew his client had no standing.

little500 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Well, apparently, it's all over now . . .

The discrimination lawsuit against Paula Deen and her brother has been "amicably resolved," the plaintiff's attorney told TheWrap.

"The matter has been amicably resolved," said attorney Matthew Billips, who has been representing former Deen employee Lisa T. Jackson in the suit. "I have said all I can say."

And with that came an anticlimactic end to a lawsuit that toppled Deen's cooking empire. Billips would not say if Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, the defendants in the case, agreed to pay any settlement.

Paula Deen Case 'Amicably Resolved,' Attorney Says

=R=

It's also been reported that Billips will be facing sanctions for his handling of the case, including the racial component when he knew his client had no standing.

Interesting. A link to that report would be very much appreciated.

=R=

Hi- The link that Ronnie gave has been updated, and the lawyer for the defense has dropped the request for sanctions. Apparently Paula has learned something from all this, and she and her team are making changes. Here is the CNN link that quotes Paula's reaction to the resolution of the case.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/showbiz/p ... n-lawsuit/

At least Paula won't have to pay for huge legal expenses she would have incurred if this case had gone to trial.

Thanks, Nancy

Hi- Now the accuser has changed her tune, and she says that Paula did not realize that all this was going on at Bubba's Oyster House. Apparently Lisa was telling people that work for Paula what was going on at the restaurant, but none of this information ever made it to Paula, Here is a link from the la Times

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/l ... 9652.story

I just discovered that Paula started a foundation shortly before all her problems surfaced named the Bag Lady Foundation. Part of the profits from sales of her Paula Deens Foods line are going to the foundation. Hope this helps, Nancy

Hi- The judge for the case just signed off on the settlement this last Friday. BTW- Paula is going to be on Master Chef on Fox tonight. The segment was filmed last March before the lawsuit surfaced. Fox considered other options, including not running the episode, or deleting the segments with Paula, but they decided to run the episode intact.

It has been reported that Paula was recently offered a spot as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, but she turned it down.

NFriday wrote:
It has been reported that Paula was recently offered a spot as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, but she turned it down.

She must be holding out for a greeter at Walmart position.

According to unclebubba.com, the restaurant is now closed.

"Uncle Bubba's Seafood & Oyster House -- the place where Paula Deen's empire crumbled -- just closed for good, and the way employees found out is just shocking.

The company did NOT tell its employees in an open meeting or face-to-face. The workers showed up this morning only to find the sign down and appliances being removed from the joint.

The only explanation was posted on the restaurant's Facebook page this morning -- "Thank you for 10 great years. Uncle Bubba's is now closed."

http://eater.com/archives/2014/04/03/pa ... -house.php

Hi- That is kind of surprising. I heard that even with all the bad press the restaurant was receiving, business was booming. All of Paula's many fans were showing up. The employees got a bad rap though.

BTW- Paula was on the cover of People magazine recently, and somebody new is picking up Paula for endorsements, and she is being paid handsomely for this deal. According to the article, she is doing much better than she was last summer.

Hi- I posted here two years ago that Paula Dean turned down Dancing with the Stars. She must have changed her mind. I just saw an ad for the new season of Dancing with the Stars, while I was watching Celebrity Wife Swap tonight, and Paula is going to be one of the contestants for the new season which I believe starts maybe around September 14th. It will be interesting to see how she does. Hope this helps, Nancy

The NYTimes front page and food section has a new article about her long time assistant. But I have used up all my free articles this month so I can't read it.

Dora Charles Moves On From Paula Deen, and Makes It All About the Seasoning
By KIM SEVERSON

Photographs by Dylan Wilson for The New York Times

Dora Charles, a former chef for Paula Deen, has written a new cookbook.

A cook who worked with the celebrity chef now has her own book, filled with both the flavors and the culture of black life in the South.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/dinin ... ref=dining

When I saw this thread had been bumped I figured it was with the "news" that Paula Deen will be on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars but I was wrong . . . as is so often the case.

=R=

Hi- I read the NYT article, and some of the comments at the end. The majority of the comments were not kind to Ms. Charles. Some people slammed the fact that she used ingredients such as accent and sprite in her recipes, and a lot of people slammed the book because the recipes were not healthy. Apparently when Ms. Charles settled with Ms. Deen a few years ago, there were lots of stipulations that Ms. Charles had to abide by before she could get any money. When Ms. Charles cookbook was first proposed, there was some concern that the settlement Ms. Charles signed, would not allow her to write a Southern cookbook, but the editors figured a way around it.

I just checked on Amazon, and Ms. Charles book, and Ms. Deens book are coming out the same day on 9/8. Paula is finally coming out with the low fat cookbook that she wrote several years ago. Shortly before it was supposed to be published a few years ago, it was pulled by the original publisher. Paula Deen is now publishing the book herself under Paula Deen Ventures. BTW- Ms. Charles book is out selling Paula's latest book.

Tyrgyzistan wrote:The NYTimes front page and food section has a new article about her long time assistant. But I have used up all my free articles this month so I can't read it.

Ahhh...you need to make friends with other browsers - Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc. . . . nice to go from 10 free articles to 30 or more. Sorry newspaper folks.