Paula Deen Says Shes Just Like "That Black Football Player That Came Out"

Newser – Paula Deen is on the cover of People, and at first, it seemed like your standard, boring comeback interview: She felt like her “world was crashing down,” she’s “fighting to get my name back,” she “would never ever hurt anyone intentionally,” she apologizes once again to anyone who “did not hear” her the first time, et cetera. But the Raw Story picks up on one buried tidbit (first reported by E!) that’s kind of incredible: Deen sees common ground between herself … and Michael Sam, who could end up the first openly gay NFL player. “I feel like ‘embattled’ or ‘disgraced’ will always follow my name,” she says. “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 also compared herself to fellow celebrity chef Nigella Lawson (who was recently scandalized by allegations that she’s a total cokehead) and Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson (who made those ill-advised comments about homosexuality), implying they were both treated more fairly than she was: “It’s amazing that some people are given passes and some people are crucified. 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.'”

Paula Deen must legitimately have the worst PR people and the worst lawyers in the business. Originally they just trotted her out there and say “Yup. I used the N word all the time. I also dream about hosting Confederate themed dinner parties with black people playing the roles of slaves!” Now shes out there comparing herself the man who’s being widely considered as the biggest, bravest hero in pro sports right now. I’m surprised she wasn’t just like “You know what? I’m just like that Homo-Black! I know exactly what he’s going through!”

Hey Paula Michael Sam said he just wants to be known as a football player because he wishes we lived in a society where sexual preferences didn’t influence people’s opinions of you. You want to be known as just a celebrtiy chef instead of “racist asshole celebrity chef” because being known as a racist asshole has ruined your career. One wants to be accepted even though he’s gay and the other wants to be accepted even though you’re a dickhead. Pretty much polar opposites.