This is a minor story compared to so many other things going on today but I personally find it very interesting and wanted to cover it. We all know how ridiculous it looked when butter and sugar pusher Paula Deen, 65, made the dual announcement that she had diabetes and was a new spokesperson for a diabetes drug. Paula’s longterm nemesis Anthony Bourdain may have summed it up best when he tweeted that he was “thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later.”

In her ensuing PR blitz, Paula barely acknowledged that her consumption of high fat calorific food, which she promotes on TV and through her magazine, contributed to her metabolic condition. Paula also barely acknowledged that the best treatment for diabetes is a healthy diet, not some pill, although she’s also launching a new show (tada!) in which she finally tries to cook healthy versions of her favorite food. Paula’s contract with drug giant Nova Nordisk is thought to be in the millions. Her long term publicist thought that was a very bad idea given Paula’s previous image as a down-home promoter of food that’s bad for us. Paula’s publicist quit and made that statement that she “could not agree with the new business strategy going forward.” That’s a very nice way of saying that Paula very transparently cashed in on her diabetes.

Paula Deen’s longtime powerhouse publicist, Nancy Assuncao, has quit after six years over the butter-loving chef’s plan to plug a diabetes drug.

Assuncao faithfully stuck with Deen through years of hearty drama, including her battle with rival chef Anthony Bourdain, who called her “the most dangerous woman in America.” But she quit as Deen’s spokeswoman and chief marketer last month as Deen negotiated her deal to hawk the drug Victoza.

Deen, now under siege by diabetics, nutritionists and fellow chefs for keeping her own Type 2 diabetes secret for three years, even as she pushed recipes full of sugar and fat, probably could use Assuncao’s help now. Deen only revealed her diagnosis last week.

A source said Assuncao “strongly disagreed with Deen’s dramatic turnabout, after years of promoting fatty foods, to announcing she has a deal with a diabetes drug company [Novo Nordisk] and will be promoting lighter food and ‘diabetes in a new light.’

“While Paula did tell some people at her live appearances about her diabetes, she certainly didn’t talk about it on her show. Nancy disagreed with Paula’s plan to be a drug-company spokesman and challenged her decision. But this wasn’t a battle Nancy felt she was going to win. She couldn’t be part of it.”

Assuncao, whose past clients have included Ian Schrager, told us last night, “I’m very grateful for the six years that I worked with Paula in helping her build the Deen brand.

“Although we had a great deal of fun along the way, I could not agree with the new business strategy going forward. Nonetheless, I wish them continued success.”

Deen’s new rep could not be reached last night, with a staffer at her office telling us, “She is on the Paula Deen cruise.” The chef’s Web site said Celebrity Cruises’ Eclipse would be a “tasty journey” in the Caribbean with a group buffet dinner, a cooking demo and a personal photo with Deen (one per family).

[From The NY Post]

At least people see this woman for what she is now. As I’ve mentioned I’ve barely thought of Paula Deen up until this point, but it’s incredibly obvious that she’ll stop at nothing to make a buck. How can you manage the image of a woman who is so money grubbing that she’ll continue to promote unhealthy food for years until she has a drug endorsement deal lined up? You don’t, you step down and say “screw it, the money’s not worth it.” Unless you’re Paula Deen, then it’s all about the money.

Update: After I wrote this, I saw this story on Entertainment Tonight (about 3/4 into the full episode available on their website) about the controversy over overweight celebrity chefs who cook unhealthy food. They said “Paula’s shocking announcement… may change attitudes says ‘The Doctor’s’ Travis Stork.

Dr. Stork said that “I would like to think that this is a wake up call. I don’t think chefs realize their influence on America. I think they realize now that their actions can influence America by giving alternatives and healthy recipes.”

They mention that Mario Batali has lost 35 pounds (I hope he didn’t go on Goopy’s expensive pill diet) and that Oprah’s personal chef Art Smith has lost 120 pounds. Smith mentioned that he had a show in the works, and that he lost it “because they didn’t like me ‘skinny chef.’ Lose the fat, lose the funny.” Smith is cooking more healthy now and is opening a new restaurant, JoAnne, in New York, along with Lady Gaga’s parents. That’s an odd pairing.

It’s nice to hear about a different celebrity chef getting healthy the right way, and it’s also reassuring to know that people in Paula Deen’s inner circle are calling her on her complete and utter bullsh*t.

Also, I need to use these photos of Paula Deen vs. the Fairy from Shrek again. (I put them together, and credit to Bodhi for coming up with it!)

Header image is from 12-15-11, credit: PacificCoastNews.com

Just yesterday I was at a farm supply store and was confronted with a Paula Deen Magazine in which she was grinning maniacally and clutching a huge slice of cake, daring us to eat it. (It was the first magazine cover below, the one with her husband.) I looked up her other magazine covers and that’s pretty much how she always poses, like the food pusher that she is.

Ever since this woman came out with the news that she’s had type 2 diabetes for years I’ve seen her in “a different light.” She’s conniving and very much in control of her image and empire. After her diagnosis three years ago Deen continued promoting incredibly unhealthy food through her various media outlets, and then she waited until she had a huge drug endorsement deal lined up before she made the announcement that she has diabetes. As many of you have pointed out, the best treatment for diabetes is a revamped diet, and although Deen has paid lip service to the fact that her diet contributed to her disorder she’s downplayed it. Deen’s recipes will get some reworking to be more healthy, but it’s too little too late and instead of promoting a healthy lifestyle she’s hawking an expensive drug treatment.

In an appearance on the talkshow “The Chew” earlier this week, Deen promised to donate “a certain percentage” to the American Diabetes Association out of the millions she’s making by promoting a pharmaceutical product.

Paula Deen may be the new face of the diabetes drug company Nova Nordisk, but she’s defending that decision by saying a portion of the profits will be donated to the American Diabetes Association.

After announcing she has Type 2 Diabetes this week, Paula appeared on ABC’s The Chew on Wednesday and discussed her diagnosis.

The Food Network star said she was diagnosed three years ago, but didn’t want to share that because she felt she didn’t have “anything to bring to the table.”

After learning about diabetes and coping with her diagnosis, Paula feels she can talk openly about it.

“I’ve always said moderation. I don’t eat every day like you see me cook on that show,” Paula said, defended her recipes. “It’s 30 days of my life, and it’s for your entertainment.”

“I don’t blame myself for my Type 2 Diabetes,” she said.

She now takes Victoza and is working with the drug company for a New Light campaign.

Paula said she and her two sons, Bobby and Jamie, are working with them “because we, like everybody else, have to work.”

However, she said they are “in a position” to “set aside a certain percentage and we’re donating that back to the ADA.”

[From OK! Magazine]

Of course Deen won’t say what “percentage” she’s donating, because if her donation is made public we’ll do the math and figure out just how rich she got by knee-capping people and then selling them crutches. (I agree that people have will and self control and can choose not to eat her food. She’s a food pusher though, pure and simple, and she has no shame.) Deen can give a relative pittance and make it seem like she didn’t really get rich by frying stuff in butter and wrapping it in sugar and then selling people a pill to treat their adult onset diabetes.

Also, I’m really reporting this because I wanted to give a shout out to Bodhi who noted that Deen is just like the Fairy Godmother in Shrek. “All sweet & nice on the outside, but cunning & manipulative on the inside” They look a lot alike too.

In May of last year*, the National Enquirer reported that down home celebrity chef Paula Deen had Type 2 diabetes for “years” and that she’d kept it a secret. Paula is renowned for cooking outrageously unhealthy food seeped in butter, fat and grease. Some of her recipes are worse than the fattiest burger you can get at a fast food restaurant and include a bacon, egg and glazed donut burger (with an actual burger patty in there), deep fried butter balls and bacon-wrapped fried macaroni and cheese, the recipe for which calls for a pound of bacon and five eggs. Type 2 diabetes is of course adult onset diabetes, one of the risk factors for which is excess weight. So Paula has been cooking and sampling food that is incredibly unhealthy and has been contributing to, and probably caused, her disorder. She may have known about it for years, if the Enquirer is to be believed, and has just been popularizing food which is just as bad for the rest of the world as it has been for her. A lot of you will point out that Paula reminds her audience that her food is a treat that’s not to be eaten everyday at least. Anyway here’s her announcement:

Even as she reveals that she is living with Type 2 Diabetes, [Paula Deen] says it won’t stop her from eating the way she wants.

“I was determined to share my positive approach and not let diabetes stand in the way of enjoying my life,” Deen said Tuesday in a release announcing her launch of Diabetes in a New Light™, geared toward finding “simple ways” to manage challenges of the disease.

“I’m excited to team up with Novo Nordisk on this initiative to show others that managing diabetes does not have to stop you from enjoying the things you love.”

The National Enquirer first reported Deen’s diabetes in April 2010*, but she never confirmed or denied the diagnosis until now. She turns 65 Thursday.

The Food Network chef with the folksy Southern drawl – and a tendency to address her fans as “Hey, y’all” – has been famously criticized for her cooking techniques. Just last summer, fellow celeb chef Anthony Bourdain called her the “most dangerous person to America” who’s “proud of the fact that her food is f—— bad for you.”

And as news leaked she was making the announcement regarding her health, Bourdain was inundated with people “looking for quotes.” And he says he “takes no pleasure” in her news, telling Eater.com, he suspects she’s known for a long time and been looking for a way “to position herself.”

“When your signature dish is hamburger in between a doughnut, and you’ve been cheerfully selling this stuff knowing all along that you’ve got Type 2 Diabetes … It’s in bad taste if nothing else,” he said. “How long has she known? I suspect a very long time.”

Deen, it was also revealed in the release, takes Victoza – a once-daily, non-insulin injection – and continues to “make lifestyle adjustments, including lightened-up versions of her favorite recipes.”

[From People.com]

I watch the Food Network often as they have shows my seven year-old and I can see together, and we mostly watch the food competition shows like Chopped and Cupcake Wars. I’ve been seeing commercials for a new show with Paula’s son, Bobby, called “Not My Mama’s Meals” in which he creates healthier versions of her southern style comfort food. (That show is on the Cooking Channel, though, and I don’t get that channel on my cable.) I have mixed feelings about this. At least Paula is coming clean, and at least she’s making healthier food. It seems like a very calculated business decision to make this announcement through a new show, a book and a publicity tour. She didn’t become the queen of “southern” cooking by not promoting herself, though. Plus she sounds like she’s been in denial for a long time. She just put out The Southern Cooking Bible in October, and that included decadent recipes she’s famous for like peanut butter and chocolate balls. Maybe she was contractually obligated to finish that book and promote it before she announced that she has diabetes. Plus she surely had a lot of endorsement and book deals to line up first.

Update: I forgot to check her new website where she’s shilling for products that manage diabetes, which are put out by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The Enquirer says Deen’s endorsement deal is in the millions.

*Note: People Magazine claims that The Enquirer announced Paula’s diabetes in April of 2010. I don’t think that’s accurate. I went through my Enquirer archives (don’t judge, it’s my job) and couldn’t find anything on Paula in that time frame except for a March, 2010 article that focused on her husband’s memoir – and mentioned nothing about her having diabetes. I’m pretty sure they made that announcement in May, 2011 when we reported on it.

Update: The Enquirer is claiming they reported it two years ago too, but in another article they state they first reported it in May, 2011.

Paula Deen is shown with her husband on 10-24-11. She’s also shown on 10-25-11. Credit: Barbara Henderson / PR Photos, WENN.com

E! correspondent Giuliana Rancic, 37, first went public with her breast cancer diagnosis this October. Early stage cancer was found in both of her breasts following two rounds of IVF treatment. An initial lumpectomy was unsuccessful at removing all the cancer, and she just had a double mastectomy with reconstruction. In an appearance on the Today Show earlier this month, Giuliana was with a breast cancer specialist who explained that the reconstruction options for mastectomies are so much more natural now than they were in the past. According to that doctor, most women opt for reconstruction immediately after the breasts are removed, which is what she usually recommends. The good news is that Giuliana is doing well and her husband said she was even cracking jokes after her surgery:

The E! News and Fashion Police mainstay underwent successful double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery last night for her breast cancer, and, according to husband Bill Rancic, came through in great spirits.

“G is doing really well,” Bill exclusively tells E! News. “Her surgery lasted about four hours and the doctors were very pleased with the result.”

“She had a little bit of pain through the night but is feeling much better this morning and was cracking jokes.”

Sounds like Giuliana is already back in fine form.

Indeed, she even had her own message to share.

“I want to thank all the viewers and fans for their support and prayers,” she says. “The tweets and notes have not gone unnoticed. I am very grateful.”

[From E! Online]

In the comments in our last post on this, I learned so much from those of you who have had cancer. Two of you have had lung cancer and noted that it’s the most common cancer of all. Many nonsmokers get it as well. Also, I was touched by Beryl’s comment that she’s a cancer survivor and that it’s hard to predict how Giuliana will feel emotionally during her illness. Giuliana has said that she’s keeping strong and will be fine, but as Beryl mentioned cancer can an emotional roller coaster. She may “sacrifice some of her personal life to help others,” but it could ultimately be harder for Giuliana to have to go through all this in the public eye. Hopefully she’s right about how she’ll feel and she’ll be ok. Best wishes to Giuliana for a speedy recovery.

*That title is a homage to the “save the tatas” campaign. Giuliana and Bill are shown outside the Today Show and The Wendy Williams show on 12/5 and 12/6. Credit: Pacific Coast News

18 year-old Disney singer and Justin Bieber girlfriend, Selena Gomez, was rushed to the emergency room on Thursday following a completely normal-seeming appearance on The Tonight Show. (You can watch her interview here.) Gomez’s symptoms are said to have been “nausea and a severe headache.” There was plenty of speculation that she might be pregnant considering the pretty obvious evidence that she’s kicking it with widdle Justin. Reports vary as to what sent her there, and it’s possible the emergency room people had no idea what was wrong with her other than her symptoms.

US Weekly reports that Selena stayed overnight for testing and that she was suspected of suffering from “food poisoning” and “exhaustion,” which makes sense. She’s due to start a 10 city tour on Monday, which was rescheduled from Friday. That sounds like a ton of stress. TMZ reports that Selena was undergoing tests for “blood pressure issues” but that “so far doctors have not been able to determine what is causing the problem.” Do they ever figure out why someone is sick in the emergency room? Unless they have some easy diagnosis, visible wounds or obvious trauma in my experience the answer is usually “no.”

According to TMZ, it’s “totally untrue” that Selena is pregnant. I hope that’s accurate and that she did just have a bad reaction to something. It seems possible that an 18 year-old who used to wear a purity ring might just forget to use protection, though. A lot of denial can happen when those purity pledges get broken.

Meanwhile Selena was seen outside a hospital in LA on Saturday. She looked tired and hopefully she’ll get some rest and feel better before she starts her tour.

photos are from 6/5/11. Credit: WENN.com

The National Enquirer has an exclusive this week that cooking queen Paula Deen has had type 2 diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, for “several years” and that she’s kept it secret. Paula of course loves to cook with butter, fat and sugar, a diet high in which is known to increase the risk of contracting diabetes. Even after her diagnosis, Paula hasn’t changed her recipes from what I can tell and has churned out insanely unhealthy recipes like a “Brunch Burger” with two different meats and a fried egg served on a Krispy Kreme donut, deep fried lasagna, and deep fried stuffing on a stick.

Paula Deen… has been diagnosed with diabetes, the Enquirer has learned exclusively.

Despite her condition, Paula continues to tout butter-rich recipes with high fat ingredients that experts say can lead to diabetes – even though sources say she’s under doctors’ orders to steer clear of those foods.

“Diabetes can be deadly because it increases her risk of heart disease, kidney failure and stroke,” Dr. Daniel Lorder, a leading endocrinologist from Flushing, NY, told the Enquirer.

“And type 2 diabetes can be directly related to obesity, which is reaching epidemic proportions in this country.”

Paula, 64, was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago, says a family friend, but she continues to plug artery-clogging dishes….

“When Paula was diagnosed with diabetes, I think she worried that if the secret got out it would make her look like a hypocrite,” a family friend told the Enquirer.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 9, 2011]

The Enquirer usually gets it right when it comes to minor celebrities and I would bet this story is true. If it’s true, what is Paula going to do to explain this? Like if she came clean on her own and admitted that she’s had diabetes and is going to make healthier recipes it would be one thing and people would laud her for being honest. Instead she’s been cooking the same and now the Enquirer is outing her. The Enquirer reports that Paula herself has been “cutting the large portions of high-fat, high-calorie foods from her diet” and has “even dropped quite a bit of weight.” I don’t follow her show and it’s possible Paula has subtly changed the way she cooks without making an announcement, but this makes it sound as if she’s cooking differently for herself, but not for the public. As Kaiser told me about Paula, “She’s a lovely woman and she loves her butter,” so maybe she’s just stuck cooking the way she knows and has personally paid the price for it. I’d love to see her switch gears though and tout recipes that are better for you.

Paula Deen is shown on 5/16/10 (blue shirt) and 11/16/10 (black shirt with blue ruffle scarf). Credit: WENN.com

Sad news. George Clooney has spent a significant amount of time in Sudan over the past few months, and during a stay in early January, he contracted malaria. Sad! Of course, malaria is a treatable condition, and this is George’s second time at the malaria fun-house. I hear they let you drink gin and tonic! That’s about it. Basically, you feel like hot death and you wish someone would shoot you in the face.

George Clooney is known for his practical jokes but a recent bout with a serious illness was no laughing matter.

The actor, 49, contracted Malaria during a trip to Africa recently as part of a push for aggressive diplomacy to avoid another potential genocide in the Sudan region. But, his rep says, he’s subsequently made a full recovery despite new reports to the contrary.

“George is completely over the Malaria he contracted while in the Sudan during the first week in January,” his rep tells PEOPLE. “This illustrates how with proper medication, the most lethal condition in Africa, can be reduced to a bad ten days instead of a death sentence.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site, “Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans.”

The news of his illness broke Thursday via the host of CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, who Tweeted that Clooney is still fighting the illness: “It’s his 2nd bout of malaria. Taking medication but feeling rough,” Morgan claimed.

Morgan says Clooney, who taped his interview on Jan. 13, is due to be a guest on his show on Friday and will talk about the condition then.

[From People]

God, George has balls. He talks the talk and walks the walk, and he’s got his second case of malaria to prove it. Oh, CNN has a video clip too – Clooney’s on Piers’ show tonight:

George Clooney contracted malaria while he was in Sudan during the recent election there, he told Piers Morgan during an interview scheduled to air Friday. Clooney was in Sudan working on a his “Enough” project with Google and the United Nations installing equipment to film the historic election. Clooney was helping set up a semicovert satellite photography project to record the voting and any possible fallout. The “Enough” project’s goal is to end genocide.

“The truth of the matter is we are hoping it is one of many tools to continue to apply pressure, at the very least, to gather evidence that could be used at The Hague later if there are – if there are infringements or rules broken … if anyone crosses across the border north or south,” Clooney told Morgan.

It was during this recent work in Sudan that he contracted malaria.

“I guess the mosquito in Juba looked at me and thought I was the bar,” Clooney quipped.

While discussing the matter in a fairly jovial manner, Clooney said it was the second time he had gotten malaria.

“You don’t think President Bashir has – has detached a detail of sickly, vengeful mosquitoes to target you whenever you arrive?” Morgan joked.

“Yeah,” Clooney responded. “I think so.”

A few minutes later Morgan joked in another tweet abut Clooney’s condition.

“Clooney malaria update: now have 24,563 offers to nurse him. But his rep says medication’s worked and he’s OK. Sorry, ladies,” Morgan tweeted.

[From CNN]

See… I went this whole time without making an Elisabetta Canalis/mosquito/blood-sucker joke. Aren’t you proud of me?

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Michael Douglas rounded out the Golden Globes very nicely last night when he presented the award for Best Picture. The crowd went wild, cheering for him and all standing up. Michael quipped “there’s got to be an easier way to get a standing ovation.” He looked great and you could tell that he’s put some weight back in since he’s successfully completed cancer treatments.

I have so admired the way Douglas has handled himself both during his cancer battle and now that he’s tentatively beaten throat cancer. That was a nice tribute to a great actor and a very admirable man. Maybe Douglas will get some more much deserved accolades at the Oscars this year, which are coming on February 27.

Douglas was on Leno on Friday, and he told Jay that after going through cancer he appreciates life more. “I smell the roses. I wake up in the morning and each day is special.” There are rumors that Douglas is currently in talks with a publisher and may be working on an autobiography. That story seems to have originated in the Daily Mail and I wouldn’t put much stock in it, but I hope it’s true. I would love to read his memoir.

Here’s an interview with Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Hones on the red carpet. They say it’s a date night for them. I love Catherine’s dress!

I know we just talked about Michael Douglas winning his cancer battle, but I wanted to cover another story on the guy because I’m just so impressed by what a class act he is. We’ve heard Douglas talk about how was hounded by paparazzi while he was gaunt and frail from chemo, and he didn’t sound angry or bitter about it, as he very understandably could have been, but simply told Matt Lauer that it was clear the stalkerazzi were getting a kick out of his illness. He said “I resent the amount of imposition on our children… there was sort of a macabre enjoyment of sort of watching me go down [healthwise] by the paparazzi.” That’s it! Very matter-of-fact, no blaming or editorial comments on how terrible that is, he lets us fill in the blanks and it’s obvious that the people who did this to him were not good people.

In a recent interview with Mary Hart on Entertainment Tonight, Mary asked him if any of his family members saw those tabloid covers that all-but pronounced him dead. Star Magazine is the offender here, and they’re running a related cover this week on Douglas. (Photo below.) Douglas said they have, particularly his ten year-old son, who thumbed through a tabloid at a drugstore and asked him about it.

Unfortunately one time my ten year-old son was at the drugstore and happened to be thumbing through and saw a story…. about my changing the will and about my life expectancy.

[From video on ET Online]

That’s it! Maybe ET edited it to take out additional comments he made on it, but he’s letting the story speak for itself and it really does. This guy is a survivor and it looks like he’s beaten cancer. He told Mary Hart that he never thought about dropping out of cancer treatment because “There’s no reason to begin it, unless you’re going to complete it.”

Tabloid covers via Cover Awards

Latest Star Cover:

From Early October:

Scrolldown warning: There are photos of Michelle McGee working a pole that are technically SFW but hard to forget. They’re helpful diet aids, though.

Because even cockroaches aren’t immune to heavy clouds of toxic chemicals, Charlie Sheen has been felled on the set of Two and a Half Men with an “ear infection” brought on by several days of drunken debauchery with porn stars, tequila and crack. Charlie went back to work on set after his massive, well documented blowout in Vegas and had to stop “acting” the very next day when his “ear infection” made it impossible for him. According to TMZ’s “sources”/Charlie’s publicist, it really is an ear infection and not just some massive gob of lube stuck in there. Maybe his eardrum has an STD. It’s too easy with Charlie.

UPDATE: Sources tell us Charlie will be on the set Thursday for rehearsals, and Friday’s taping will go as scheduled. As for the ear infection, we’re told he had it in Vegas and should never have gotten on a plane because it made it a lot worse. Charlie didn’t leave the house today. The doc made a house call.

A lot of people have contacted us scoffing at the official story that Charlie Sheen didn’t make it to the set of “Two and a Half Men” today because of an ear infection … but it’s really true.

TMZ has confirmed … a doctor from Warner Bros. is with Charlie and he really does have what we’re told is a “serious, ongoing ear problem.”

The Warner Bros. doctor got in the act because the insurance policy covering the show requires it.

Charlie has gone to his own doctor for the problem, but it’s legit.

[From TMZ]

So many people have to hustle and lie for Charlie that somethings got to give soon. How much did Charlie’s “ear infection” after his bender cost CBS? There are so many people who have to sit around and wait for him that it’s probably in the seven figures, just for one day.

Photos are from 6/7/10 and 10/28/10. Credit: Fame Pictures

Please forgive me for posting these photos. They should have been in the Charlie Sheen post yesterday and I almost can’t help myself.