Paula Deen Supporters Protest for Chef With Butter
Paula Deen, the 66-year-old restaurateur and cooking show host who recently lost lucrative business deals after being accused of racism, is getting support from fans who are willing to protest in her honor.
John Schmitt, a hotel auditor in Indianapolis, has created a Facebook page called "We support Paula Deen" that has garnered over 600,000 supporters in the form of "likes."
Schmitt called for people to send butter wrappers to the companies who have cut ties with Deen, the chef who is known for using the spread in her recipes.
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"Join the National Butter Wrappers for Paula Protest now to tell these corporations that you want Paula Deen back on the shelves and back on your television," Schmitt wrote.
"A company without Paula is like a wrapper without butter," he continued. "These corporations have cut ties with Paula, and no longer broadcast her television shows, or carry her products. We have the power to demand that her status be reinstated, and it's easier than you think."
Deen has been dropped by a number of sponsors including Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Walgreens, QVC and The Food Network.
Deen made $18 million from her multiple business ventures in 2012. The cook appeared on the "Today"
show recently and said she did not feel she should have been dropped by her varied business associates.
"Would I have fired me? No. Knowing me? No," she said.
The cook is more upset about the loss of her reputation than potential earnings, People magazine reported.
"She isn't upset about the loss of money," a source told the entertainment publication. "She's really upset about her reputation."
Deen's troubles began when a deposition surfaced from May 17. The Food Network host admitted to using the N-word in the past during the recorded event, which resulted in Food Network and Smithfield Foods severing ties with the cooking show host. A number of Deen's other business associates followed suit.
