Remember America’s “favorite” southern TV chef Paula Deen? Her Food Network show, “Paula’s Favorite Dishes,” attracted 1.1 million viewers in 2012, making it one of the network’s top rated shows at the time.
Black folks most likely remember her more for that scandal in 2013, in which Deen admitted in a deposition during a discrimination lawsuit that she “of course” used the N-word before. The lawsuit alleged that she also mused about throwing a “Southern plantation”-themed wedding with Black male servers.
Immediately following Deen’s admission, she and her show were canceled by the Food Network and the rest of America. She apologized and even went on the “Today Show,” but her tears were not enough to make most people care. The chef lost brand deals from Walmart, Target, and several restaurants nationwide.
Since 2013, Deen has been working to regrow her fanbase and redeem herself in the public eye. She placed ninth on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2015. She currently has a cooking show on YouTube and has released another cooking book.
She also continues to post recipes on TikTok like she once did on the television screen. Most recently, one of Deen’s TikToks went viral, with more than 2 million viewers and conting.
The reason, however, isn’t for how good the food looks.
According to many, Deen looks “unrecognizable.” She appears to have lost a noticeable amount of weight, and many Black folks social media are doing what we do and attributing her physical transformation to karmic retribution for dropping the N-word like she had the right.
Of course, a 77-year-old won’t look the same as she did during her television prime 15 years ago. But some believe there’s more to her appearance than age: Deen shared on TikTok in April that she’s “at home battling renal cancer.”
She has also shared about her ongoing battle with Type 2 Diabetes since 2009, which can be caused by genetics or poor diet, according to the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Whatever is the cause for Deen’s appearance, she still has some support from the public all these years later.
Under the viral TikTok, @kaileegaddis1 said “I didn’t know I missed her voice until I heard it! Nostalgia.”
“You are the absolute best and you and your family have my prayers” Tiktok user @tibbyswinson said.
@pinkerrthanng also replied “She was up in age when we were watching her in 2006. She looks good.”
“I am your number-one fan! I think you are the best cook in the world and the best thing to ever hit the Food Network” said @penny_time2020 on Instagram.