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."
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.