Paula Deen and PR Rep Break Up Over Butter

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By: Shawn Paul Wood

Hey y'all. It's no secret Americans love fattening food. If that weren't the case, "The Biggest Loser" wouldn't be so popular and buffets at Cici's Pizza wouldn't make such a killing.

One such person who has endeared herself to the gluttony of this country is Paula Deen. The woman cooks everything with five sticks of butter and a side of fat just to make sure she doesn't need to use salt. You know, because salt is bad for you and all. And in the time the Food Network has brought her ham hocks to America, Paula has found great recipes, hair plugs, Botox, neon — almost toxic white — veneers, and a truckload of cash.

Good on her, right? America loves her, yes?

Well, amidst promoting lard-intense foods, Paula Deen admitted that she has Type 2 Diabetes...and America turned on her like Paula flipping a pig on a flaming-hot skillet. The issue wasn't that she had a disease like diabetes while bringing about the disease for her many followers, but that she decided to profiteer from it. In what has to be described as bieing as classy as three-time-married Newt Gingrich talking about the sanctity of marriage, Paula announced a partnership with diabetes drug maker Novo Nordisk.

Upon hearing this news, the nation was summarized through TV chef bad boy Anthony Bourdain, who took to the airwaves and tweeted:

"Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later."

Then, the angst of America got even worse when reports broke out that Paula Deen's longtime publicist Nancy Assuncao had dumped the Butter Queen over her plans to get rich off her ailment. This is the same woman who defended Deen through Bourdain's initial attack of calling her "the most dangerous woman in America." So, let it be said to the naysayers that flacks do indeed have scruples. Even those from New York.

According to the story, a source said that Assuncao "strongly disagreed with Deen's dramatic turnabout, after years of promoting fatty foods, to announcing she has a deal with a diabetes drug company." In fact, Deen's latest media coup will be promoting lighter food under the guise of "Diabetes in a New Light."

"While Paula did tell some people at her live appearances about her diabetes, she certainly didn't talk about it on her show. Nancy disagreed with Paula's plan to be a drug-company spokesman and challenged her decision. But this wasn't a battle Nancy felt she was going to win. She couldn't be part of it."

To wit, I suppose in an age where consumers demand transparency, I say it's very difficult to show transparency when your friggin' arteries are clogged. Wonder if the new PR person can help with a flashlight?

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About the Author

Shawn Paul Wood has been a committed flack for more than a decade and is currently an Account Director at HCK2 Partners in Dallas, Texas. Prior to his diverse experience in public relations, copywriting and speech writing, Shawn worked as an on-air talent, producer and copywriter. Ping him here or follow him at @ShawnPaulWood.

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