Paula Deen
Deen (left) in a public service announcement for Civitan International, 2006
Born
Paula Ann Hiers[1]

(1947-01-19) January 19, 1947
Albany, Georgia, U.S.
Spouses
Jimmy Deen
​
(m. 1965⁠–⁠1989)​
    Michael Groover
    ​
    (m. 2004)​
    [2]
    ChildrenJamie Deen and Bobby Deen
    Culinary career
    Cooking styleSouthern
    Current restaurant(s)
    • The Lady & Sons Restaurant, Paula Deen's Family Kitchen (5 locations), Paula Deen's Creek House
    Television show(s)
    Award(s) won
    • 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host
    Websitewww.pauladeen.com

    Paula Ann Hiers Deen (born January 19, 1947)[3] is an American chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant and Paula Deen's Creek House with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has published fifteen cookbooks.

    Early life

    Deen was born Paula Ann Hiers in Albany, Georgia,[3] the daughter of Corrie A. Hiers (née Paul) and Earl Wayne Hiers, Sr.[4] Deen was 19 when her father died unexpectedly aged 40, and her mother died four years later aged 44.[5] Prior to her father's death, Paula, aged 18, married Jimmy Deen and in 1967 they had their first son James ("Jamie"), and in 1970 a second son Robert ("Bobby") was born. In her 20s, Deen suffered from depression and agoraphobia and began to spend more time preparing food for her family, as it was something she could do without leaving her house.[6] Deen's cooking style had been informed by her grandmother Irene Paul, who had taught her the art of Southern cooking[7] that Deen described as “real farmhouse cooking, the kind that takes all day”.[6] In 1989, Deen and her husband Jimmy divorced.[8] Needing to support herself, her two sons, and her younger brother Earl ("Bubba"), Deen tried various enterprises[9] before starting a catering service that she called The Bag Lady,[10] making lunches for office workers, which her sons Jamie and Bobby delivered.[9]

    Restaurants

    Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Georgia
    Lady & Sons

    Following the success of Deen's home–based business she took over the restaurant in the Best Western, Abercorn Street, Savannah in 1991 and called it The Lady. In January 1996, after five years at the Best Western,[11] Deen, together with her sons Jamie and Bobby, opened their own restaurant, The Lady & Sons, in downtown Savannah, on West Congress Street. Within a few years, the restaurant moved to the old White Hardware building on Whitaker. Deen also opened four casino buffets; they were at Harrah's Casino Tunica in Mississippi, Harrah's Cherokee casino in North Carolina, Horseshoe Southern Indiana, and Harrah's Joliet in Illinois. They were rebranded in 2013 shortly after Deen was removed from the Food Network.[12] In addition to these, Deen co-owned Uncle Bubba's Oyster House in Savannah, Georgia. The restaurant closed in April 2014[13][14] and reopened in June 2017 as Paula Deen's Creek House.[15] In 2015, Deen opened Paula Deen's Family Kitchen in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,[16] and in June 2017, opened another in the city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at Broadway at the Beach.[17] In 2018, Deen opened two Paula Deen restaurants in Texas, but both closed the following year.[18][19] In 2020, Deen opened a Paula Deen's Family Kitchen in Nashville, Tennessee,[20] and in 2021, another in Panama City Beach.[21]

    Books and magazines

    In 1997, Deen self-published The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook and The Lady & Sons, Too! A Whole New Batch of Recipes from Savannah . Both cookbooks featured traditional Southern recipes.[22] She has since published two more, written with Martha Nesbit. Deen has appeared on QVC and on The Oprah Winfrey Show (first in 2002, twice in 2007 and once in 2010). Her life story is featured in Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success (2007, Sourcebooks). In April 2007, Simon & Schuster published Deen's memoir, It Ain't All About the Cookin'. She launched a lifestyle magazine called Cooking with Paula Deen in November 2005,[23] which claimed a circulation of 7.5 million in March 2009.[24] As of 2021, the magazine is still being published monthly. In 2015, Paula Deen Ventures signed a distribution agreement with Hachette Client Services for future cookbooks.[25][26] In 2019, Deen released her latest cookbook, Paula Deen's Southern Baking.[27]

    Food Network and other television

    Deen's relationship with Food Network began in 1999, when a friend introduced her to Gordon Elliott.[5] Elliott took her through the city for a series of Doorknock Dinners episodes. Deen was invited to shoot a pilot named Afternoon Tea in early 2001. The network liked it, and eventually gave Deen her own show, Paula's Home Cooking, which premiered in November 2002. Paula's Home Cooking was originally taped in Millbrook, New York at Elliott's home,[5] and later, recorded at Deen's own home in Savannah, Georgia.[28]

    Deen throwing out the first pitch before the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals on May 19, 2010, in Washington[29]

    Deen presented two more Food Network shows, Paula's Party and Paula's Best Dishes.[30] Paula's Party premiered on the Food Network in 2006[31] and Paula's Best Dishes debuted in June 2008.[32] A televised biography of Deen was aired as an episode of the Food Network's Chefography program, in March 2006.[33]

    On June 21, 2013, due to a controversy regarding Deen's admission that she had used racial slurs in a social media post, The Food Network announced they would not renew her contract.[34] In March 2015, Deen launched the Paula Deen Channel on Roku.[35] In September 2015, Deen was announced as one of the celebrities to compete on the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars. She was paired with professional dancer Louis van Amstel.[36] The couple was eliminated in the sixth week of competition, finishing in 9th place overall. In October 2016, Deen launched a syndicated television show, Positively Paula. Deen also appears on the home shopping network ShopHQ selling a variety of merchandise including kitchen appliances and food products.

    On April 7, 2021, it was announced that Paula Deen is set to join Masterchef as a guest host for the 11th season premiering in June 2021. Deen, along with other well–known cooks, such as Emeril Lagasse, will join Gordon Ramsay to mentor 15 home cooks through a series of challenges.[37]

    Personal life

    In 2004, Deen married Michael Groover (born 1956), a tugboat captain in the Port of Savannah, Georgia.[38] Deen has two children from a previous marriage, as does Groover. The wedding was featured in a Food Network show in 2004 and took place at Bethesda Academy in Savannah.[39]

    Paula is a supporter of Bethesda Academy, and asked Old Savannah Tours to donate $1 to the organization for each ticket purchased for the Paula Deen Store ticket sale.[39]

    Other work

    Deen made her film debut in Elizabethtown (2005), starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. She played the aunt of Bloom's character, and her cooking was featured. A Food Network special, Paula Goes Hollywood, aired in conjunction with the film's premiere.[40]

    Awards and honors

    In June 2007, Deen won a Daytime Emmy Award (Outstanding Lifestyle Host) for Paula's Home Cooking.[41] In October 2010, she was selected as the Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade, and presided over the 2011 Rose Parade before the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2011.[42]

    Criticisms

    Use of sugar in recipes

    Deen was criticized for her use of sugar by Christina Pirello, a "natural food" advocate and television chef.[43] Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set, a cookbook aimed at children, was criticized by Barbara Walters, who said of the book, "You tell kids to have cheesecake for breakfast. You tell them to have chocolate cake and meatloaf for lunch. And french fries. Doesn't it bother you that you're adding to this?" Deen replied, "All things in moderation."[44] Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain commented in 2011 that he "would think twice before telling an already obese nation that it's OK to eat food that is killing us".[45]

    On January 17, 2012, Deen announced that she had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years before. Deen became a paid spokesperson for the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which produces drugs for that disease.[46]

    Racial slur controversy

    In June 2013, Deen was sued by Lisa Jackson for racial and sexual discrimination.[47] Jackson said that Deen made derogatory remarks regarding African Americans.[48] Jackson also said that Deen mused about wedding plans for her brother with a "true Southern plantation-style theme" with black male servers but rejected the plans "because the media would be on me about that". In early August 2013, Judge William Moore threw out the suit’s race-discrimination claims, ruling Jackson, who is white, had no standing to sue over what the plaintiff said was poor treatment of black workers; however, Judge Moore let Jackson’s claims of sexual harassment stand. Roughly two weeks later, lawyers reached a dismissal deal to drop the lawsuit, prompting some to surmise that a settlement had been reached out of court, though details of the dismissal deal have not been made public.[49][50][51]

    The suit originally brought little fanfare with it; however Deen’s eventual deposition created a firestorm in the press. Deen stated in her deposition that she had “of course” used the "N-word" at times.[52][53][54][55][56] Specifically, she recalled telling her husband about an incident "when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head. ... I didn't feel real favorable towards him."[57] Asked if she had used the word since then, she said: "I'm sure I have, but it's been a very long time [...] maybe in repeating something that was said to me ... probably a conversation between blacks. I don't – I don't know. But that's just not a word that we use as time has gone on. Things have changed since the '60s in the south."[57]

    In the time between the filing of the suit and the suit being dismissed, Deen had cookery programs, publishing deals and endorsement contracts cancelled by Food Network,[58] Smithfield Foods,[59] Walmart,[60] Target, QVC,[61] Caesars Entertainment,[12] Novo Nordisk,[62] J.C. Penney,[63] Sears/ Kmart,[64] and her then-publisher Ballantine Books;[65] however, several companies have expressed their intent to continue their endorsement deals with Deen.[66] During the same time, sales of Deen's cookbooks soared.[67] Former US President Jimmy Carter urged that Deen be forgiven, stating, "I think she has been punished, perhaps overly severely, for her honesty in admitting it and for the use of the word in the distant past. She's apologized profusely."[68]

    I Love Lucy controversy

    In July 2015, Deen faced controversy over a Halloween picture from 2011 in which Paula was dressed as Lucy Ricardo played by Lucille Ball while her son Bobby was dressed as Lucy's Cuban husband Ricky Ricardo, played by Desi Arnaz, in blackface makeup, along with Gordon Elliott who was not in costume.[69][70] The photo was taken from a holiday-themed episode of her former Food Network show Paula's Best Dishes with a tweet mimicking Arnaz's accented English on the show.[71] The material was taken down quickly.

    Filmography

    YearTitleRole
    2002–2012Paula's Home Cooking (television)Host
    2005ElizabethtownAunt Dora
    2006–2008Paula's Party (television)Host
    2006Chefography (television)Subject
    2008–2013Paula's Best Dishes (television)Host
    2009Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (television)Guest star
    2009Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (television)Guest star
    2011Top Chef (television)Guest judge
    2012Oprah's Next ChapterSubject
    2012Who Do You Think You Are? (television)Subject
    2012–2013MasterChef (television)Guest judge
    2015Dancing with the Stars (television)Contestant (season 21)
    2016–presentPositively Paula (television)Host
    2017–presentPaula Deen's Sweet Home Savannah (television)Host
    2020–presentLove & Best Dishes with Paula Deen (Web-Series)Host
    2021 MasterChef: Legends Guest star

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ Piechota, Jim (June 20, 2013). "Southern hospitality". The Bay Area Reporter. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    2. ↑ "Who Is Paula Deen's Husband, Michael Groover?". Delish. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    3. 1 2 "Paula Deen Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
    4. ↑ Stated on Who Do You Think You Are?, May 18, 2012
    5. 1 2 3 "Taste: Deen of the kitchen". Sptimes.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
    6. 1 2 Julia Moskin (February 28, 2007). "From Phobia To Fame: A Southern Cook's Memoir". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
    7. ↑ "Paula Deen – Southern Belle Charmer". PioneerChef.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014.
    8. ↑ "Paula Deen – Biography". IMDb. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
    9. 1 2 "Paula Deen: True Grit | SUCCESS Magazine | What Achievers Read". Success.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
    10. ↑ "Paula Deen's Story". The Lady & Sons. Archived from the original on May 26, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    11. ↑ "The Lady and Sons Restaurant – Our Beginnings". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
    12. 1 2 Tepper, Rachel (June 26, 2013). "Paula Deen Dropped By Caesars Entertainment, Loses Four Casino Buffets". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    13. ↑ ABC News. "Health News & Articles – Healthy Living – ABC News". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    14. ↑ Paula Deen Restaurants Archived February 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 24, 2013.
    15. ↑ Nussbaum, Katie (April 6, 2017). "Paula Deen, family plan new restaurant". Bluffington Today. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
    16. ↑ Michael Williams. "Sevier County launching pad for Paula Deen's comeback – News Sentinel Story". KNS. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    17. ↑ Weaver, Emily (January 28, 2016). "Plans submitted for new Paula Deen restaurant at Broadway at the Beach". The Sun News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
    18. ↑ "Paula Deen's restaurant in North Texas unexpectedly closes". fox4news.com. Fox Television Stations. August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
    19. ↑ Martinez, Sarah. "Paula Deen's Family Kitchen Abruptly Closes San Antonio Location". sacurrent.com. San Antonio Current. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
    20. ↑ "Paula Deen's Country Kitchen opens at Opry Mills in Nashville". WATE 6 On Your Side. October 27, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
    21. ↑ Newsroom, WJHG (January 22, 2021). "Paula Deen's Family Kitchen in Pier Park to reopen". www.wjhg.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
    22. ↑ Olver, Lynne. "FAQs: pie & pastry". The Food Timeline. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    23. ↑ "Paula Deen Magazine to Debut". Business Wire. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    24. ↑ "Home – Paula Deen Magazine" (PDF). Paula Deen Magazine. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    25. ↑ "Paula Deen Inks Deal with Hachette". Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
    26. ↑ "Hachette - Our Clients". Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
    27. ↑ "Paula Deen: Queen of Southern Cuisine Brings New Cookbook To NWA". Arkansas Online. August 16, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
    28. ↑ Cowen, Diane (March 19, 2006). "Meet Savannah's Biggest Star". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
    29. ↑ "Paula Deen – Photo 13". CBS News. May 19, 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
    30. ↑ "Articles". Cooking with Paula Deen. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
    31. ↑ Smith, Aaron (September 22, 2014). "New chapter in Paula Deen's comeback". cnn.com. Cable News Network (CNN). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
    32. ↑ "Paula's Best Dishes (TV Series 2008– )". Imdb.com. IMDb, Inc. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
    33. ↑ "Chefography". tvguide.com. CBS Interactive, Inc. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
    34. ↑ "Paula Deen Canned: Food Network 'Will Not Renew' Chef's Contract Amid Racism Row". Mediaite. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
    35. ↑ "Sevier County Launching Pad for Paula Deen's Comeback". Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
    36. ↑ "Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Cast Announcement". ABC. September 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
    37. ↑ Nemetz, Dave (April 7, 2021). "Paula Deen Joins MasterChef as One of Season 11's Culinary Legends". TVLine. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
    38. ↑ Moore, Brett. "Paula Deen biography". Gourmetfood.about.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    39. 1 2 Paula Deen: Our famous 'Lady" Archived September 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Savannah Morning News, March 25, 2010
    40. ↑ TV : Food Network Specials : Paula Goes to Hollywood : Food Network
    41. ↑ "The Emmy Awards – Winners of The Creative Arts Entertainment emmy awards". Emmyonline.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
    42. ↑ Chef Paula Deen Named Rose Parade Grand Marshal Archived June 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, AP via ABC News, October 26, 2010
    43. ↑ Pirello, Christina (November 17, 2011). "How Can Paula Deen Sleep at Night?". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
    44. ↑ "Barbara Walters Says Paula Deen Makes Kids Fat". Parent Dish. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
    45. ↑ Derschowitz, Jessica (January 18, 2012). "Anthony Bourdain criticizes Paula Deen (again) after diabetes announcement". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
    46. ↑ Mikaela Conley (January 17, 2012). "Paula Deen Confirms Type 2 Diabetes; Teams Up With Novo Nordisk". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
    47. ↑ "Paula Deen said she used slur but doesn't tolerate hate". Today. June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    48. ↑ Anderson, Jessica (June 25, 2013). "Paula Deen Racism Claim 'Lacks Standing', Because Plaintiff Is White, Georgia Lawyer Says: Do You Agree?". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
    49. ↑ Blinder, Alan (August 12, 2013). "Racial Bias Claim Dismissed for Paula Deen". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
    50. ↑ Duke, Alan (August 13, 2013). "Judge tosses race discrimination charge against Paula Deen". [CNN]. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
    51. ↑ Puente, Maria (August 12, 2013). "Experts: Paula Deen is done despite legal win". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
    52. ↑ Dobuzinskis, Alex (June 21, 2013). "UPDATE 2-Food Network to drop Paula Deen amid racial slur controversy". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
    53. ↑ Duke, Alan (June 21, 2013). "Celeb chef Paula Deen admits using 'N word'". CNN. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    54. ↑ "Is Paula Deen racist? National Enquirer reports shocking admissions". MSN. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    55. ↑ "Paula Deen hit with 'racist' tag following 'National Enquirer' story". KSDK. June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    56. ↑ Collins, Scott (June 19, 2013). "Report: Paula Deen admits using N-word, telling racist jokes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    57. 1 2 "Document: Transcript of Paula Deen's testimony". CNN. May 17, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    58. ↑ Lynch, Rene (June 21, 2013). "Paula Deen fired by Food Network over use of racial epithet" Archived June 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Los Angeles Times.
    59. ↑ Paula Deen dropped as Smithfield Foods spokeswoman. Clarion-Ledger. June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
    60. ↑ "Wal-Mart ends relationship with Paula Deen". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    61. ↑ "Target, QVC latest companies to drop Paula Deen products". Fox News. June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
    62. ↑ O'Connor, Clare (June 27, 2013). "Paula Deen Dumped By Home Depot And Diabetes Drug Company Novo Nordisk As Target, Sears, QVC Mull Next Move". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
    63. ↑ Maria Halkias, J.C. Penney is the latest retailer to end its relationship with Paula Deen Archived June 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Dallas Morning News, June 28, 2013
    64. ↑ "Sears, Kmart latest retailers to drop Paula Deen products". Fox News. June 28, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
    65. ↑ "Paula Deen Cookbook Dropped By Publisher". NPR. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
    66. ↑ Companies Standing With Deen Archived June 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Huffington Post, June 27, 2013
    67. ↑ Chasmar, Jessica (June 27, 2013). "Paula Deen cookbooks surge to top spots on Amazon best sellers". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
    68. ↑ Joe Sterling, Carter: Paula Deen should be forgiven Archived July 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, CNN, June 29, 2013
    69. ↑ Elber, Lynn (July 8, 2015). "Paula Deen distances herself from posted 'I Love Lucy' photo". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
    70. ↑ Lawanson, Akeem (July 7, 2015). "Paula Deen posts brownface pic, Twitter is pissed". Chicago Tribune.
    71. ↑ Rogers, Katie (July 8, 2015). "Paula Deen Faces Backlash Over 'I Love Lucy' Posting". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
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