Paula Deen’s Ham Mishap With Vegan Ellen DeGeneres
So, here’s a story that blends awkward comedy with a touch of celebrity controversy. Paula Deen, the celebrity chef famous for her Southern cooking, has been opening up in a new documentary about some of the highs and lows of her career. And one of the moments she recalled was a pretty unforgettable faux pas involving Ellen DeGeneres.
Back when Deen appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show , she thought she was bringing a thoughtful gift. Ellen introduced her as the “queen of Southern cooking,” and Paula walked out proudly carrying—of all things—a ham. Smiling, she handed it over with the line, “I brought a ham for my favorite ham.” Ellen, ever the professional, thanked her politely, placed it down, and moved on without much comment.
Also Read:- Aftershocks Jolt Berkeley as Bay Area Feels a Seismic Wake-Up
- Nathan Rourke Slams CFL’s New Rule Changes
What Paula didn’t realize at the time was that Ellen has been a vegan for years. Later, when Deen learned this detail, she admitted that she felt completely embarrassed and even described herself as feeling like, in her own words, “a turd.” Looking back, she couldn’t believe she had walked onstage presenting a piece of meat to someone who doesn’t eat any animal products. It was one of those moments that only grew more cringe-worthy with time.
This story is part of Deen’s new documentary, Canceled: The Paula Deen Story , directed by Billy Corben and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film tracks her rise from starting a small catering business in her own kitchen with just $200, to hosting shows on the Food Network for more than a decade. But, of course, it also covers the dramatic fall in 2013, when she admitted during a lawsuit deposition that she had used a racial slur in the past. That admission cost her Food Network deal, along with partnerships with major retailers like Walmart and Target, effectively derailing her career.
In the documentary and in recent interviews, Deen has struck a defiant tone, insisting that her side of the story was never fully told. She even said the fallout “ate at her gut every day” and that she wasn’t going to be satisfied until “the truth” was seen. Her sons, Bobby and Jamie Deen, joined her for an interview and revealed they weren’t so sure revisiting the scandal was a good idea. Bobby even told her bluntly that while she claimed she “lost it all,” their family, health, and businesses were still intact.
Ellen, meanwhile, has faced her own controversies. Her talk show ended in 2022 amid allegations of a toxic workplace environment. So when you put these two public figures together—Paula Deen, unintentionally handing over a ham, and Ellen DeGeneres, the longtime vegan—you get a snapshot of the kind of uncomfortable cultural moments that stick in people’s minds.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the smallest missteps—like giving the wrong gift—can become symbolic of much bigger stories. And for Paula Deen, that ham is likely a moment she’ll never live down.
Read More:
0 Comments