Television cook Paula Deen has cooked up some trouble for herself with her revelation this week that she has diabetes.
Deen -- known for her high-calorie takes on Southern cuisine -- has drawn the wrath of fans and colleagues alike with her admission that she has Type 2 diabetes. Many are infuriated that Deen withheld her condition while shilling gut-expanding recipes to the public. And they are accusing her of exploiting her condition by revealing it on the same day she began promoting a diabetes treatment as a paid spokesperson for a pharmaceutical company.
Deen's revelation that she suffers from diabetes -- a condition she's had for three years, by her own admission -- on Tuesday's "Today" show likely didn't surprise many people. The Georgia-born Food Network personality's recipes typically consist of two-thirds butter, half-sugar and perhaps a sprinkle of lard.
However, the fact that her announcement came on the same day as she began promoting the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, manufacturers of the diabetes medication Victoza, has inspired outrage in many.
Also adding fuel to accusations of exploitation: The fact that Deen's son, Bobby Deen, launched a new series, "Not My Mama's Meals" -- on which he offers more health-conscious variations on Paula's recipes -- on Cooking Channel earlier this month.
(Bobby and Deen's other son, Jamie, are also serving as spokespersons for Deen's campaign -- dubbed "Diabetes in a New Light" -- for Novo Nordisk.)
Deen told the New York Times that she held off on the announcement because “I wanted to wait until I had something to bring to the table,” but that excuse doesn't appear to be holding sugar-water for many.
Also read: Paula Deen's Diabetes Solution: "Lighter" Gooey Butter Cake Recipe
Anthony Bourdain, chef and host of the Travel Channel's "No Reservations," was quick to call Deen out.
"Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later," Bourdain hissed in a barely-veiled tweet.
The hoi-polloi weren't too kind either. While some fans offered their support for the cook on Deen's Facebook page, there was no shortage of detractors.
"Shame on you Paula!" one commenter fumed. "[Y]ou waited three years to divulge your illness while still promoting your health deteriorating ways. Your son then gets his own 'healthy cooking gig' and THEN you reveal you are diabetic signing a contract for millions! ETHICS, SCRUPLES, and TRUE LOVE FOR YOUR FOLLOWERS is something you DO LACK!"
The commenter's screed ends, "GREEDY and YOU ARE THE DEVIL PAULA!!!!!!!"
Another critic seethes on Deen's Facebook page, "[Y]ou have lied to the public for the past three years -- during this time you opened two buffets in Harrah's casinos, written books and had your TV show! ... You are/were a PUBLIC FIGURE and lied to your public by not coming out an saying you were diabetic! oh, but I guess you would have lost the buffets at the casinos which I know rack in $$$."
