Celebrity Circuit
By

Jessica Derschowitz /

CBS News/ January 18, 2012, 11:30 AM

Anthony Bourdain criticizes Paula Deen (again) after diabetes announcement

Paula Deen and Anthony Bourdain

/ CBS/Getty

(CBS) Anthony Bourdain is continuing his war of words with Paula Deen.

The "No Reservations" host, who previously called Deen the "worst, most dangerous person to America," made his most recent comments after the Food Network personality announced Tuesday that she has Type 2 diabetes and had signed a deal to endorse a diabetes drug.

Pictures: Paula Deen
Paula Deen confirms she has Type 2 diabetes

Hours after Deen broke the news, Bourdain posted this message on Twitter: "Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later."

He sent a second tweet later, responding to an article on TMZ about his tweet. "For the record: Never called anybody a 'diabetic scam artist,'" he wrote. "TMZ's words. Not mine."

On Monday, when Deen's news had yet to be announced but speculation about it was rampant, Bourdain questioned Deen promoting fatty foods while knowing about her diagnosis.

"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 told Eater. "How long has she known? I suspect a very long time." (On the "Today" show Tuesday, Deen revealed she was diagnosed three years ago.)

This isn't the first time he has criticized Deen. Back in August, he called her "the most destructive person on the Food Network" and said in an interview: "She revels in unholy connections with evil corporations and she's proud of the fact that her food is f---ing bad for you. If I were on at seven at night and loved by millions of people at every age, I would think twice before telling an already obese nation that it's OK to eat food that is killing us. Plus, her food sucks."

Deen responded at the time by saying that Boudain needed to "get a life."

13 Photos

Paula Deen

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
110 Comments Add a Comment
linkicon reporticon emailicon
RubbieRed says:
It's entertainment people. The Food Network and Paula Deen are all about ENTERTAINMENT. I love Paula she is very entertaining and that is why I watch her show. Not all the chefs on the Food Network go public with their health crises. It's about the Food and the Entertainment. My husband is a type 2 diabetic, I love Paula's show and I will continue to watch. I don't cook a lot of her food or much of any of the recipes on the Food Network. I watch for the entertainment factor. That's it, and Paula is one of the best, she makes me laugh and I love her, along with many others from the Food Network. It's just entertainment, just like any other show. I watch the home makover shows too and don't go re-do my house every day... okay, Love you Paula... you are so great, hope you are doing well.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
LeslieLuise says:
Yes ... shilling for a pharma company when a healthier diet could possibly cure the disease! It is disgusting ... She has the right to keep personal information to herself but the pharma deal combined with her poor excuse on the Today Show that she did it this way because she had nothing to offer to her fans until now ... she blew it! She had an opportunity to handle her illness very differently and she went for the great big cash pharma deal and phony excuses. Shame on you, Paula Dean. Love my remote ... click!
reply
Wvphantom1 replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Ok, I guess someone bashing Ms. Deen trying to get ratings is just A-ok with you right? I Mean Anthony Bourdain has never had a hit show. He is just trying to make a name for himself. I hate it that she has diabetes, and I hope she will be able to manage it appropriately. Just remember judge not, lest ye be judged. Both of you need to get a life.
linkicon reporticon emailicon
LeslieLuise says:
Yes, Roger Brad, I think we all should do that and hopefully will do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
GA_Gentleman says:
PS until all this came out... I had never heard of Anthony Bourdain.... sounds like he wants to hitch his wagon to a star, Paula Deen.
reply
LeslieLuise replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
That doesn't say anything about Anthony Bourdain but a lot about you. He is an author, world traveler, and was an executive chef at one of the world famous restaurants in NYC. He already is a star!
linkicon reporticon emailicon
GA_Gentleman says:
Southern food and southern cooking is what it is and if you don't like or think it is not good for your health then go eat you Tofu and stuff. But leave Paula Dean alone.
reply
gafromgatn replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
We all know what type of food she is famous for. Julia Child was obsessed with butter too but nobody dissed her. For anyone who is diagnosed with diabetes, isn't it enough that she has to make her own personal decisions about what she should eat or not. How many times did we watch Bourdain travel the world eating whatever, not to mention, drinking everything in sight.
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Roger Brad says:
As she said, He needs to get a life. She always mentions eating her foods in moderation. HeR food is Southern Home Style cooking. If you don't like, don't eat it. Your best bet is to not watch her show. And again, 'GET A LIFE.'
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
sentry88 says:
Hey Annty Go bvack to France
reply
vismundcygnus replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Um. Anthony is from New York, and was the head chef of a restaurant there. *facepalm*

Also, the man is a brilliant writer and personality, and has managed to make a career travelling the world and eating food for a Travel Channel show, a gig that anyone would envy. He's very opinionated, and has never been one to pull punches. But he certainly has no intention to ride Paula Deen's fame train.

His criticism is fair - yes, Julia Child cooked with butter, so does every other damn chef on the planet. But as far as I know, Julia Child never deep-fried a cheesecake on national television.
linkicon reporticon emailicon
catwoman1952 says:
No one pays any attention to Bourdain... he's an a**
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
rsmik says:
She kept it secret for three years and only came out now because she was going to be outted. To have diabetes and continue to push unhealthy recipes is unconscionable.
reply
GA_Gentleman replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Leave Paula alone....
LeslieLuise replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Now we are reading words that make sense ... she blew it! Her deal with the drug company makes me sick - watch the actions of anyone and you will know who they are.
linkicon reporticon emailicon
savetheplane says:
I'm NOT defending Paula Deen . . . But . . . I've only watched Bourdain's show one time and in every-other scene he was smoking . . . so while his disdain for Deen is understandadble - he is an EQUALLY bad influence on the American public by promoting SMOKING !!!!

So would it be wrong if he quit smoking & began profiting from promoting a company that sells a nicotine patch ?!?!?!?!
reply
AndrewWeaver replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
That is an interesting observation, but not the same. Someone pitching the patch as a way to get off cigarettes is admitting cigarette smoking is harmful. Paula refused to admit that food is the major cause, and is selling out to the "pill to fix everything" mentality that is endemic in our culture. This is as perfectly distilled as a case can get, to illustrate what is wrong with our health in the US. Celebrate gluttony, then when there are consequences, refuse to change behavior (sorry honey, "cutting back" on sweet tea isn't going to do it) and rely on the magic pill from BigPharma. I want to like Paula, she's likeable. But her message is dangerous.
annieridesthewest replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Nooooo, it ain't the same, yaaaaa'll. It would be similar if Bourdian was known as a tobacco magnet with a loyal following and showed America how to grow, roll and smoke their own tobacco every day for three years after being diagnosed with lung cancer, keeping it quiet until a drug company offered him a poSht of gold to promote their cancer drug. There is a BIG difference. What she did was highly irresponsible and dangerous. Shame on you, Paula Deen.
See all 110 Comments