Paula Deen fired and Alabama again lives down to stereotypes

[laura oz]

What the ever loving hell?! Alton and Guy? :sigh: I'm done with FN. Where the heck do they find their hosts? I'll get recipes from the damn net. At least I won't have to hear Guy say his grating signature phrase 'That's money"; it crawled my nerves. I really liked Good Eats, so that sucks. My husband is a Republican with strong Tea Party leanings, and was homophobic when we got together. I remember a conversation we had not too long before we got married where I asked him if the roles were reversed and being with the same sex was the norm would he be able to stop loving me and have a relationship with another man. It took forever for him to say no. Most of my male friends were gay so he got thrown in the deep end a little, and I'm glad he learned to swim. I still don't think he's comfortable with it, but he doesn't say anything.

[flyawaystray]

What the ever loving hell?! Alton and Guy? :sigh: I'm done with FN. Where the heck do they find their hosts? I'll get recipes from the damn net. At least I won't have to hear Guy say his grating signature phrase 'That's money"; it crawled my nerves. I really liked Good Eats, so that sucks. My husband is a Republican with strong Tea Party leanings, and was homophobic when we got together. I remember a conversation we had not too long before we got married where I asked him if the roles were reversed and being with the same sex was the norm would he be able to stop loving me and have a relationship with another man. It took forever for him to say no. Most of my male friends were gay so he got thrown in the deep end a little, and I'm glad he learned to swim. I still don't think he's comfortable with it, but he doesn't say anything.

I like Good Eats, too.

At least Anne Burrell seems ok, so does Bobby Flay.

Remember when Food Network personalities were Emeril, Wolfgang, Julia Child, etc?

I think Food Network needs a reboot with a bunch of different people who aren't homophobic, sexist, or racist.

[nokidsmom]

Chiming with a few thoughts:

I preferred the PBS cooking shows as well. Though did see Paula and thought she was rather over the top. Did wonder why she continued to promote her cooking with all the butter after the diabetes confession.

Born and raised in the Midwest, and did occasionally hear the "n" word used by people. I was never allowed to say it; my parents made it very clear that it was disrespectful. Husband's parents did the same thing. This was in the '60s.

One thing I thought regarding Paula's slip of the tongue, plantation wedding and all the stuff alleged in the lawsuit. Yes, she would have been raised at a time when there were segregated schools, drinking fountains, public washrooms, etc. However, her age also puts her at a time when the civil rights movement was happening and she would have been aware of it on some level. Now, she can harbor whatever private opinions she wants, but she should know by now (especially now that she is a nationally known person), that times are different and saying such a word publically is going to be damaging. Discriminatory practices in her businesses, should they come out, are going to be damaging. I don't give her a pass on the "she was raised at a different time" defense. That may have been true but she isn't exactly living in a vacuum. She knew better.

[flyawaystray]

Well I wasn't defending her actions, she is an adult and should know using the n word is never acceptable. My dad doesn't use the n word at least, I try to correct him when I think he's making a racist remark (he only does it in private, but still), he's set in his ways, though.

I've noticed this with my boyfriend's grandmother. Her parents came over from Sicily and she uses the Italian word for the n word a lot. I don't like it, but she doesn't realize it's a bad thing to say. She's in her 70's, and nobody in her family sees this as a problem. As much as I'd like to say something, I don't because I don't want to cause a fight during family functions. At least my boyfriend isn't racist.

[nokidsmom]

Well I wasn't defending her actions, she is an adult and should know using the n word is never acceptable. My dad doesn't use the n word at least, I try to correct him when I think he's making a racist remark (he only does it in private, but still), he's set in his ways, though.

I've noticed this with my boyfriend's grandmother. Her parents came over from Sicily and she uses the Italian word for the n word a lot. I don't like it, but she doesn't realize it's a bad thing to say. She's in her 70's, and nobody in her family sees this as a problem. As much as I'd like to say something, I don't because I don't want to cause a fight during family functions. At least my boyfriend isn't racist.

flyawaystray, not sure if you thought I was commenting on what you said in your earlier post, but just in case, I didn't think you were defending her at all. Though I get having relatives who are set in their ways and use words that are no longer acceptable out of habit. My MIL didn't like the use of the "n" word and raised her son not to use it however, don't get her started on Hispanics. Oh boy.

[flyawaystray]

Ah ok, I wasn't sure if you were talking in general or what, my bad.

It's a shame we can't live in a world where there's no hate. No racism, no homophobia, no sexism.

[debrand]

I also don't understand why people believe she just let the N word slip. That would have been pretty reprehensible but there is more to the case than just that one word being said.

[ThisOlGirl]

Paula, Alton AND Guy? Please tell me that my imaginary boyfriend Anthony Bourdain is still an okay guy. No wonder he hates his former employer the Food Network.

[Knight of Ni]

No way! Alton Brown? How disappointing. I love "Good Eats".

Can't say I'm too surprised about Guy though. He's always struck me as an arrogant asshole.

My mom asked for one of the "Hungry Girl" cookbooks for her birthday. When I bought if for her she was really disappointed that it was just basically taking recipes and using artificial sweeteners and fat free substitutes. There weren't any truly healthy foods in there. Artificial sweeteners are even more unhealthy for you than sugar.

The mention of PBS cooking shows reminded me of one of the hosts of the shows on that network. He was an old guy who would, in the middle of cooking, take a handkerchief out of his shirt pocket, wipe his nose and go right back to cooking. I couldn't help but think, how unsanitary. It just made me laugh a little that he would do that on t.v. and not give it a second thought.

[nokidsmom]

Ah ok, I wasn't sure if you were talking in general or what, my bad.

It's a shame we can't live in a world where there's no hate. No racism, no homophobia, no sexism.

No worries :) . I was talking in general and had no issue with your previous post.

[lizziesmom]

I like Good Eats, too.

At least Anne Burrell seems ok, so does Bobby Flay.

Remember when Food Network personalities were Emeril, Wolfgang, Julia Child, etc?

I think Food Network needs a reboot with a bunch of different people who aren't homophobic, sexist, or racist.

Bobby Flay is probably too boring to be controversial and Burrell is gay so hopefully she isn't homophobic. After watching her compete in several shows I no longer watch her because she comes across as a really bad loser. (Same with Giada). The more I see of FN's talent the less I like them.

[EyeQueue]

I like Good Eats, too.

At least Anne Burrell seems ok, so does Bobby Flay.

Remember when Food Network personalities were Emeril, Wolfgang, Julia Child, etc?

I think Food Network needs a reboot with a bunch of different people who aren't homophobic, sexist, or racist.

Anne Burrell: ny.eater.com/archives/2009/12/salacious_lawsuits.php

Not sure what ever happened with this, but it was a bit disappointing since I was a real fan of hers.

Edited to break link.

[ThisOlGirl]

The mention of PBS cooking shows reminded me of one of the hosts of the shows on that network. He was an old guy who would, in the middle of cooking, take a handkerchief out of his shirt pocket, wipe his nose and go right back to cooking. I couldn't help but think, how unsanitary. It just made me laugh a little that he would do that on t.v. and not give it a second thought.

Was it "The Cajun Cook" or something like that? I remember an old sweaty guy constantly wiping his face while he was cooking. Even as a kid I remember thinking I wouldn't want to eat at his house.

[EyeQueue]

Was it "The Cajun Cook" or something like that? I remember an old sweaty guy constantly wiping his face while he was cooking. Even as a kid I remember thinking I wouldn't want to eat at his house.

Might it be this gentleman? I remember he used to add mad amounts of wine to his food, while gleefully chanting, "A little more wine...a little MORE wine..."

(Sorry--not sure how to embed the entire video)

[ThisOlGirl]

That would be the guy, Eye Queue! Loved him (but the whole wiping your sweaty face while cooking was still icky).

[Lillybee]

More allegations against Paula and her restaurants.

http://www.11alive.com/news/article/296 ... Paula-Deen

[laura oz]

I'm old enough to remember when Jesse Jackson wasn't a media whore and genuinely seemed to care. Now, I just equate him with Al Sharpton. Civil Rights organizations have done so much good and are badly needed, but people like those two really irk me. Anytime there is any kind of race relation story they seem to jump on it all ready to pontificate and get their 15 minutes, an it just feels so opportunistic to me.

[FreeJosie]

Chiming with a few thoughts:

I preferred the PBS cooking shows as well. Though did see Paula and thought she was rather over the top. Did wonder why she continued to promote her cooking with all the butter after the diabetes confession.

Born and raised in the Midwest, and did occasionally hear the "n" word used by people. I was never allowed to say it; my parents made it very clear that it was disrespectful. Husband's parents did the same thing. This was in the '60s.

One thing I thought regarding Paula's slip of the tongue, plantation wedding and all the stuff alleged in the lawsuit. Yes, she would have been raised at a time when there were segregated schools, drinking fountains, public washrooms, etc. However, her age also puts her at a time when the civil rights movement was happening and she would have been aware of it on some level. Now, she can harbor whatever private opinions she wants, but she should know by now (especially now that she is a nationally known person), that times are different and saying such a word publically is going to be damaging. Discriminatory practices in her businesses, should they come out, are going to be damaging. I don't give her a pass on the "she was raised at a different time" defense. That may have been true but she isn't exactly living in a vacuum. She knew better.

That's what I was thinking too. She was born in 1947, which puts her in her late teens/early 20s as the civil rights movement picked up steam. Surely she was aware of it.

In my family and my husband's family, the people with racist tendencies (my grandparents, his parents) were born in the late 1920s/early 1930s. And even they knew better than to throw the "N" word around.

[J'ean Skirt]

To me, the issue is not that she harbored racist thoughts or said racist things in the past. It's that she created a hostile work environment and acted on those racist beliefs.

I used to like Paula, she vaguely reminded me of my southern grandmother and some of the things she cooked early on reminded me of special occasion food I grew up with. That was a very long time ago, though.

I also do have some admiration for her (here me out before you start the flamethrowers). She was alone, raising two boys with agoraphobia. She was in a bit of the world where women are nothing if they do not have a man. Yet she built a successful business (The Bag Lady) and a restaurant. That tells me she is a tough lady. And I do still admire what she overcame to get where she is.

I don't like her. But... she's not had her life handed to her on a silver platter. And, somehow, that means something to me.

[DifferentGurl]

No way! Alton Brown? How disappointing. I love "Good Eats".

Can't say I'm too surprised about Guy though. He's always struck me as an arrogant asshole.

I'm just as shocked as you are about Alton Brown. He even did a PSA for Heifer International. I liked "Good Eats" too .I admit, I kinda hope that he was just joking at that book event ( even though those jokes were horrible ) and not actually racist and a homophobe, but I know that's probably not true.

I have some of hope that Alton would stop being racist. He seems to be a nice guy and maybe because of that he's got the capacity to change his views on race. As for him stop being homophobic, that may be harder to change. I think he has more a chance of stop being racist than stop being homophobic.

As for Guy...eh, I feel like it's kinda harder to become non-homophobic than non-racist. Considering Guy's personality, it may be harder for him to change his views.

Then again, maybe I'm just fishing in the sky and hoping these nice guys ( well, at least Alton seems nice ) can change because I like them and can't imagine people I like being racist and homophobic.

[Shasta ODonegal]

I've met Alton Brown a couple of times. He is very polite to fans and is gracious and understanding about the long lines, etc. Let's face it, there are people who forget they don't really know the people they watch on TV. I would think that the overfamiliarity would get to be a bit much.

Would it burst anyone's bubble to know that Bourdain is a tough guy with a heart of gold when it comes to fans? If so, pretend you never read that.

[PennySycamore]

Was it "The Cajun Cook" or something like that? I remember an old sweaty guy constantly wiping his face while he was cooking. Even as a kid I remember thinking I wouldn't want to eat at his house.

Yep, you're thinking of the late Justin Wilson. I never noticed him wiping his nose particularly, but I do remember his handkerchief. I have to admit I liked his show. He taught me how to measure a 1/2 teaspoon of salt by pouring it into the palm of my hand. I still do that and it works! He'd open his show by saying "How y'all are?" and was also fond of saying "I gar-ron-tee!" Justin was a good storyteller.

He was a safety engineer by training and a cook by avocation. His father was the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in Louisiana for 32 years, from 1916 to 1948.

[wild little fox]

What upsets me the most is the fact her and her family have no manners or able to act professionally or with just plain common decency!

I'm not excusing her behavior at all. But even someone who "grew up in another era" should be able to have enough manners to keep their shitty thoughts out if the workplace.

[wild little fox]

I also don't understand why people believe she just let the N word slip. That would have been pretty reprehensible but there is more to the case than just that one word being said.

On my end the news media is doing a very lousy job telling what the lawsuit is really about. They have only said that she used the N word. That's all they said! Nothing about the descrimination of race and sex, wedding, the porn on the computers in the workplace, etc!

[bionicmlle]

Yep, you're thinking of the late Justin Wilson. I never noticed him wiping his nose particularly, but I do remember his handkerchief. I have to admit I liked his show. He taught me how to measure a 1/2 teaspoon of salt by pouring it into the palm of my hand. I still do that and it works! He'd open his show by saying "How y'all are?" and was also fond of saying "I gar-ron-tee!" Justin was a good storyteller.

He was a safety engineer by training and a cook by avocation. His father was the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in Louisiana for 32 years, from 1916 to 1948.

Yes!!! I measure my salt that way, too! and whenever my husband questions it, I'll think "I GAR-UN-TEEE!!!!" loved him.