Why everyone is so angry at Paula Deen
The short answer is that the public feels deceived. And, from a public health perspective, she blew a potentially valuable "teachable moment."
Why everyone is so angry at Paula Deen
Today’s post is by Leah Roman, a guest blogger for The Public’s Health. Roman, a project manager for the Firefighter Injury Research & Safety Trends (FIRST) project at Drexel University School of Public Health, blogs regularly about the intersection of public health and pop culture at “Pop Health.” She can be contacted at lar92@drexel.edu.
By Leah Roman
Last Tuesday, Paula Deen appeared on the Today Show to announce that she had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes - three years ago. Almost instantly, the highly successful Food Network chef was portrayed as a money hungry enemy of the public’s health. Paula Deen is not the first celebrity to conceal a health issue. Michael J. Fox, for example, waited more than five years to share his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, yet he was instantly embraced as an advocate.
So why is everyone so angry at Paula Deen?
In order for celebrities to become valuable public health spokesmen or advocates, they do not have to be perfect. However, they must appear trustworthy, relatable and armed with accurate information about their condition. The reason that Deen has been rejected from these roles is that the public feels deceived.
The deception stems from two key issues:
- First, the health issue on the table is Type 2 diabetes. Given that being overweight is a primary risk factor for the condition, people find it hypocritical that she continued to sell them on fatty, unhealthy recipes. In fact, when directly asked on the Today Show about the contribution of her diet to her diagnosis, she downplayed it completely. Instead, she made a point of highlighting other risk factors like age and genetics. In addition, she has continued to serve as a spokeswoman for high-fat foods such as Smithfield Pork Products and Philadelphia Cream Cheese despite her diagnosis.
- Second, Deen waited to announce the diagnosis until she had signed an endorsement deal with Novo Nordisk (the pharmaceutical company that supplies her diabetes drug). Although she claims that her partnership with the company stemmed from her desire to “bring something to the table when I came forward,” the public isn’t buying it. In addition to appearing motivated by monetary gain, her primary focus on medication is an ineffective public health strategy. This medication – a daily injection marketed as Victoza – does not actually prevent Type 2 diabetes. It simply offers a treatment to those who are already diagnosed.
A thoughtful opinion piece in the Washington Post highlights the “teachable moment” that Deen missed by alienating her audience. Teachable moments are important in public health. They let us identify a time when our audiences will be more open to prevention, education, and intervention because they see its relevance to their lives. Often the identification and sustainability of teachable moments are supported by media reports on the health and lives of celebrities.
Our opinion of Paula Deen aside, we must admit that this celebrity has a strong influence on the public’s health. With multiple Food Network shows and more than 10 cookbooks, she has a large audience that is watching and listening. So she could still be embraced as a spokeswoman and advocate! In order to win back our trust, she must make us believe that her motivation is to help others, not make money. We must believe that she acknowledges the role her cooking has had on her diagnosis. Finally, in order to actually improve the public’s health, she must advocate for a change in modifiable behaviors that will actually prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes – diet and exercise.
What do you think: Do celebrities have the right to talk about their health information whenever and however they feel comfortable? Or do they have a social responsibility to disclose as early as possible – and to discuss it in a way that is most likely to improve the public’s health?
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You don't HAVE to eat what she makes. Take some personal responsibility and stop blaming others for your choices. Paula's passion was food and she has a good life because of it. There are plenty of contributing factors to diabetes.
Comment removed.- She waited until she was going to make money off of her diagnosis b4 going public with her diagnosis. It seems greed was her motivation, how much more money does she need?? If she wanted to keep it a secret she has diabetes is her business, I don't have a problem with that, but to act all concerned now that you are a paid spokesperson,,,beat it Paula, lost alot of respect for you...— bronzequeen
- Paula could care less about her unhealthy recipes which include tons of butter and sugar. It's all about the MONEY folks...always is. She reminds me of a used car salesman.— dogman5
- leah you have to be just about an idiot to think there is any correlation between micheal j fox and paula deens diseases. paula gave herself diabetes with her poisonous diet and lack of exercise. then jams it down an ignorant publics throat by calling her recipes home-cookin' and comfort food. she is an evil money hungry pig. micheal j fox has a disease whose onset can not be controlled with proper eating and physical activity.— poorcarole
- The only thing worse than her food is that hillbilly accent.— The Selector
- Funny that no one is really blaming the Food Network or Wal-Mart or Smithfield or any of the other companies she is associated with. Its quite possible that she was contractually obligated to hide her illness. Personally, I do not give a hoot. I am still supporting her. She cooks food that people like to eat. End of story. Just because she can't eat the food doesn't make her a hypocrite. Her cooking shows are about southern, home style cooking NOT diabetic foods.— psyrus
- I'm not mad at Paula Dean although I find her contract with Novo Nordisk to be not only ironic, but in terrible taste. First she contributes to the illness of diabetes and then she profits from the cure. My problem with Paula Dean is that she is totally over-exposed. Her face is everywhere, t.v., the supermarket, Target. How fascinating can one person be? I'm over her Southern sweet-as-pie persona. As as saccharine as her sweets.— DwightinDC
- they lady probably eats a stick of butter total through out her day that doesnt mean we have to.— cuso20
- Those recipes were never healthy to begin with. Acting like its a surprise that the older, overweight woman developed Type 2 diabetes is absurd. Just another instance of people not wanting to take their own responsibility for their choices. Everyone has known for years which foods are unhealthy and lead to obesity and related disease. Random TV chefs do not owe it to you to connect the simple dots, any more than Julia Child owed it you 50 years ago.— drbob1
- It's the endorsement deal. If she had just came out with Type 2, the public would be sympathetic. She appeared on Oprah once and when asked about the health risks of eating food she prepares she answered "I'm your cook, not your doctor."...and now she wants to shill the solution after shilling the cause of the problem.— Col. Nathan R. Jessup
- Dean puts on a phony southern accent to appeal to the lard-addicted.
She pushes her unhealthy recipes for YEARS after knowing that she has contracted the disease as a result.
She hypocritically hides that information until after she signs a lucrative contract with Big Pharma.
It is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY to her.
How republican.— JeffJenk - I am 64 years old. I grew up on fried chicken cooked in Crisco from the big blue can, beef, burgers,the best butter made toll house cookies on the planet, sweet tea made with real sugar...you get the idea. Well, I am still here and so is my 89 year old mother.
To all you Paula haters...the same button that turns the television on, also turns it off. And the remote is not permanedntly stuck on the food channel.Paula doesn't "jam" anything down anyone's throat. You think Julia Child's recipes were "healthy"? Please. Take some personal responsibility "y'awll". All y'all in Atlanta might want to visit the legendary Mary Mac's Tea Room(if it's still there). That's what they served...Southern cookin'at its best.
That cooking was here long before Paula Deen, and it will be here long after she is gone.— johnnymon - We love Paula but the criticism is fair. She didn't disclose her diagnosis three years ago because it would hurt her immediately. And then didn't disclose it still until she had a profitable contract in hand. She's fair game as a result, that simple.— PhillySubsMac
- Money Money Money--Money!!!! Some people got to have it-- Some people really want it--Do things do things real things yeah! This is the name of the game. Get it no matter what you have to do to get it. Push food that is bad for people--thou the people know its bad for them. I think this song was written already. I guess you forgot it? Why am I not shocked? Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!— A. Martinez
