[UPDATE: Paula Explains on Today] Paula Deen Is Diabetic — and Cashing In


 UPDATE, JAN. 17, 9:30 A.M.  In this morning's appearance on The Today Show, Deen clears up a few details. She's a paid spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, not Novartis.
 
Al Roker lobbed a few pointed questions, and Deen revealed she kept her diagnosis from the public for three years while she “figured things out in her own head.”

Things such as coming up with a strategy for spinning this diagnosis into a fresh revenue stream for herself and her son Bobby, whose new TV show, Not My Mama's Cooking, Deen blatantly plugged on her Today Show appearance.

Also this morning, Anthony Bourdain sends his regards:
]

UPDATE: Jan. 13, 11 p.m. CBS News updated a previous report by saying a Novartis rep denies any contracted agreement with Deen, as well as any plans to use her as a spokesperson. Deen will appear on The Today Show next Tuesday to address this matter.

ORIGINAL POST, JAN. 13, 1:30 p.m. Paula Deen confessed today that she has Type 2 diabetes. Not that we're surprised with all the fattening, unhealthy food she makes. What is surprising is Deen also annouced she has a multimillion-dollar contract with Novartis, maker of a diabetes drug she's endorsing.

Last year, Deen and the glib Anthony Bourdain got into a media spat when he called her “the worst, most dangerous person to America” for contributing to the obesity epidemic. Well, it turns out Bourdain was right.

So just when you thought Deen's popularity crested and she was sliding toward irrelevance, we're likely to see even more of her Southern schlock. Because what's she going to do when faced with the first-hand knowledge that her cooking is dangerous? Have the decency to say, “Whoops, sorry, y'all,” and retire? Hell no. She's like the silver-haired version of Rosie O'Donnell, another media whore zombie mogul that Just. Won't. Go. Away. Already.

So expect to see a whole new set of Paula shows and magazines about eating healthier and a renewed sense of purpose to turn up the dial on that irritating, on-air personality. Because you know she's not going to let a little thing like diabetes mellow her out.

Let's play a game, readers. What will the new, more contrite image for Deen look and feel like? I'll start:

“Put a little less South in your mouth, y'all!”

Follow Stick a Fork In It on Twitter @ocweeklyfood or on Facebook!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *