Disgraced former Food Network star Paula Deen, who revealed that she regularly used the n-word and lost several endorsement deals as a result, is on the comeback trail and is now comparing herself to gay pro football prospect Michael Sam in an interview with People magazine, Rawstory reports.
“I feel like ‘embattled’ or ‘disgraced’ will always follow my name,” Deen is reported to have told People. “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.”
Earlier this month, it was reported that Deen secured an investment worth between $75 million and $100 million to be used for a new company.
In the interview with People, which is scheduled for publication on Friday, Deen issued another public apology for her behavior. She also suggests that the criticism and loss of jobs and endorsement deals was strict punishment, considering Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson was only briefly suspended after anti-LGBT and racially insensitive remarks of his were published by GQ magazine, Rawstory reports.
“It’s amazing that some people are given passes and some people are crucified,” Deen was quoted as saying. “I have new empathy for these situations, though. My dad always told me, ‘Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.’ ”
Read more at Rawstory.