Paula Deen always seems to make magic happen when she talks about sensitive issues. And by magic, I mean she is the queen of making cringe-worthy comments. She made another one during a recent interview with People Magazine by comparing herself to Michael Sam.
Last summer, Deen was the subject of a lawsuit that alleged she made derogatory remarks regarding African Americans in the presence of a woman who had African American family members. While the suit was later dismissed, Deen admitted that she has used the N-word at times and blamed it on growing up in the 1960s in the south. Her reputation hasn’t been the same since.
Deen told People that she is fighting to restore her image and curb the public’s negative opinion of her. She may have taken a step back.
“I feel like ‘embattled’ or ‘disgraced’ will always follow my name,” she said. “It’s like that black football player who recently came out. He said, ‘I just want to be known as a football player. I don’t want to be known as a gay football player.’ I know exactly what he’s saying.”
Deen’s point was that she does not want to be known as a racist for things she said decades ago, but how that relates to Sam’s situation is beyond us. First of all, the fact that Sam is a black football player has absolutely nothing to do with his having come out as gay. That was mistake No. 1.
And secondly, Deen admitted to using racial slurs. Sam admitted he’s gay — not that he made a mistake and is seeking forgiveness. The 67-year-old just dug herself into a much deeper hole.
H/T The Wrap
