Paula Deen Publicist, Nancy Assuncao Sanchez, Reportedly Quit Over Novo Nordisk Deal

Paula Deen's longtime publicist Nancy Assuncao left her job at the beginning of December for then-unexplained reasons. Today, though, the New York Post reported that Assuncao left the company when she learned that her employer planned to endorse Victoza, a diabetes drug manufactured by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, after hiding her diabetes for three years. The Post quotes Assuncao, “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.”

There's no doubt that Assuncao is no longer Deen's publicist. On December 6th, she sent an email to many of her press contacts, including HuffPost Food, saying that she was no longer representing Paula Deen. The note begins:

Dear Friends, in addition to wanting to wish you all a great holiday season, I'd like to take the opportunity to let you know that effective this month I am no longer representing the divine Ms. Deen.

After close to six years, I have decided that it's time to move in another direction. It has been an incredible journey and I'm quite proud to have been a part of the Deen Team.

I will continue representing Bobby and Jamie Deen, both of whom have new shows premiering on the Food Network in January and April.

No one has yet gotten Deen's side of the Assuncao departure story, so it's possible that there are other factors that contributed to her departure. (Deen's team is on a Paula-themed cruise in the Caribbean right now, so they have not been responding to press inquiries.)

Assuncao initially said -- as indicated above -- that she planned to represent Paula's sons, the hosts of healthy cooking show "Not My Mama's Cooking." But Bobby and Jamie Deen have opted, since that email was sent, not to work with her. Assuncao told the Huffington Post, "They ultimately decided to go with their mother's new representative."

"I had an amazing six years with Paula. We did great work together and built a terrific brand," she continued. "But this is her business and she has every prerogative to make these decisions. I respect her decision and wish her well.

It's also easy to imagine that Assuncao would not have wanted to represent Paula in the wake of her announcement. The press reaction has been overwhelmingly negative up to this point, so it would no doubt be stressful, and distressing, to represent Paula amidst all the coverage. Even Deen's fellow celebrity chefs have not come to her defense.

And it's not like the negative press is showing any signs of letting up. Commentators continue to weigh in on the topic, the latest being former New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni, who dedicated his most recent column to Deen. He described her failure to come clean about her diabetes for three years as "a profound, unsettling act of withholding" -- though he also noted that many in the food business practice subtler, but no less insidious, forms of deception.

UPDATE: It turns out that opinions like Bruni's aren't even the worst news Deen's gotten in recent weeks. The Daily, the publication that originally broke the rumors that Deen was about to announce her diagnosis, last Thursday, is now reporting both that Paula has high blood pressure and that she will make $6 million over two years for her work promoting Victoza.

Comments

[glenya7121]

11:26 AM on 02/27/2012

Paula Deen has proven to be a Fake...she is after every ''dime' that she can get. Now ''Mommie's Boy,'' Bobby has his own ''cooking show!'' She endorses Smithfield, and it has been ''no secret,'' over the years the mistreatment of the Smithfield Employees.

[Lin52]

10:38 PM on 02/25/2012

Had Paula come out with her health issues right off, she could have had shows with healthy adaptations of many of her recipes. Let people see how to turn a not-so-good-thing into a positive one. Diabetic-friendly recipes. Sort of like the way Weight Watchers has their chosen celebrity showing us the weight loss and positive changes. Paula could be an encouragement for those with diabetes. No drug company needed. Changing eating habits can practically reverse diabetes.
Seems like there are many hands in the pot with business. Contracts, etc. Paula's image was one of fried, buttery rich foods. A change from that can spell distaster monetarily. It's like not thinking of butter in realtion to Julia Child.
I tried publishing a self-help cookbook for people with pain. But was told I do not have a strong platform on cooking. I DO have one on pain though. No matter. When a Food Network cook came up with a somewhat similar idea, it was grabbed up. She had a drug company backing her also. Not to say her intention is not to help people, but it's really sad when "how much can we make off her?" leads the decisions. Just my take on it all. I wish Paula improved health and creativity in diabetic friendly recipes.

[VictoryNotVengeance]

08:02 PM on 02/24/2012

To the dudebrowhoever who thinks cooks are not rock stars.

NAY. NAY TO YOU.

I posses the golden spatula.

[sallyrosie]

02:54 PM on 02/24/2012

Paula waited so she could make more money by using a drug and representive the drug comany. It's all about money she does not care that is why she waited so long to tell everyone.

[NLPMan]

05:28 PM on 01/29/2012

If someone derives their livelihood by the provision of some service or product, then they are also liable for possible destructive negative consequences of their actions. If she is of malicious intent or action by proposing adults eat unhealthy food then just about every food manufacturer would need to be hauled into court for neglgence. But it is not just adults who eat. What has to evaluated is the intent, degree, direct causation and level of voluntary participation by the person and the person they have potentially offended. In this day and age of scientific knowledge about the etiological connection of diet with disease, her public discourse with regards to child nutrition is about as reponsible as telling kids to not wear helmets or use seatbelts. It is one thing for an adult to consume this kind of diet out of reckless stupidity but the people who should and dont have a choice are children being fed this diet and modeling this type of emotional compensation strategy. The innocent victims are children who do not have a say in how they are fed and will be dealing with obesity and all of the concurrent health challenges as a result of this diet instead of proactively preparing for a constructive adult life.It is not just the ill physical effects of obesity a child must deal with but the emotional,social and economic consequences. And as Paula Deen has learned it is not easy undoing a lifetime of unhealthy emotional eating indoctrination.

[GoodDecisions]

01:49 PM on 02/25/2012

F&F

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

01:53 PM on 02/25/2012

After yesterday's Deen piece, I researched and found this one. I really appreciate your intelligent discussion. So many people just CHOOSE to be reckless with their lives and the lives of their children, and that makes Deen an enabler.

Fanned & Fav'd.

[Thomas Minot]

08:09 AM on 01/28/2012

Watched her yesterday, I thought her "Blackened Talapia" looked great...not sure why she would want that cheeseburger when she could make so much better.

[ITSALLBSHERE]

01:35 AM on 01/28/2012

sounds like a lot of folks posting here have food issues...there are groups for that you know.

[DivineEquine23]

05:15 AM on 02/25/2012

For me, this is the least of her disgusting business behaviors. She is the rep and spokesperson for Smithfield Company that makes ham, bacon, etc. Ever since I found out about how thiis company runs their factory farms, I boycotted that company and the "pig" who hawks their products. The company had stopped this particular abuse of animals a while back BUT when it was deemed too expensive to treat the animals humanely, they reverted to the very abusive manner of maintaining the animals and tried to keep it quiet. They were found out and there was some information printed about it. Anyone who could represent a company that treats animals this way is among the most disgusting on the planet. People like Smithfield and Paula Deen will do anything for money and it is wrong God will get them but I actively boycott both and try to inform everyone I can. It is horrible & so is she.

[GoodDecisions]

01:50 PM on 02/25/2012

Oh, I had no clue about that. Of course, I won't eat the swill from people like Smithfield, Deen, Purdue and the many other factory farming companies that bring us disease.

Thank you for that. F & F

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

01:54 PM on 02/25/2012

Well, that does it. Fanned & Fav'd from me too.

I too boycott companies such as Smithfield. They're farming methods are abhorant at every level.

[skylark006]

11:19 AM on 01/27/2012

of course she has HBP and diabetes, I would have been shocked if she didn't. I watched the early shows that she made in her producers home in upstate NY. When she started making the newer ones in her new home, she changed. The other shows she had Paula's Party, etc, watching her throw herself on any man that came next to her was disgusting. Then of course she got her magazine, furniture company, making pots and pans, etc and now representing a drug company. I just don't understand why everyone makes such a big deal over these people that cook. So what they cook, why are they put up on a pedestal is beyond me. They COOK! that is all they do! For petes sake! they are not rock stars.

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

01:57 PM on 02/25/2012

I think people make a big deal over them because they're unwilling to actually LEARN how to be creative and cook properly themselves. It's easier to learn bad things than to learn good things for them.

I never have watched her except on a small segment here and there on other shows, so I'm not all that familiar with her, but based on what you said, she does seem to have a 'faded beauty queen' attitude, doesn't she?

Oh, and I'm on a streak fanning those that make sense and make good decisions. So you're fanned. I hope to learn more from your posts!

[midwestflynbabe]

09:47 AM on 01/27/2012

I do agree that Paula should have either revealed she had diabetes earlier or kept it to herself all together. It is really nobody's business what her ailments might be. As for the cooking show, she has always had fun with the food and has always said some of the items are to be eaten in moderation. She is not the only Food network star to make bad for you foods.. Giada has a recipe for fried wontons filled with Nutella and sprinkled with powdered sugar, and look at her. No one bats an eye because she is cute and skinny. People pick on Paula because she is older and heavier. GUESS WHAT?? SKINNY PEOPLE GET DIABETES TOO.
There is nothing wrong with taking an opportunity to make money or promote a product one believes in, but in this case the timing was all wrong. Maybe Paula should not listen to all the advice given to her by her promoters and managers.
I have had the privilege to have met Paula in person at her own home and she is one sweet and funny lady.

[Marilii]

03:20 PM on 01/27/2012

I love your post! You are very right in what you say. MANY other cooks on tv make high calorie, high fat dishes. NOBODY expects their dishes to be every day fare. Just because Paula has diabetes doesn't mean she must change who she is or what her cooking trademark is. If people are diabetic and feel uncomfortable about eating her style of cooking, then opt out. Period. But they shouldn't make Paula into a "horrible person" just because she chose to keep her diagnosis of diabetes to herself. Many people don't want to share medical information with the general public. From the bulk of these posts, I can sure understand why!

[drsaysso]

01:22 PM on 01/28/2012

But she didn't keep her diabetes diagnosis to herself--she chose to get paid millions of dollars to be a spokesperson for a diabetes drug. She is getting paid well to tell about her diabetes--it's not like some reporter exposed the fact that she has diabetes, she released that information because she's getting paid to! Diabetes is a serious health issue and she is now a public figurehead of diabetes and should, therefore, feel some responsibility to be a positive representation of how to live with diabetes!

[Marilii]

04:51 PM on 01/30/2012

If you develop heart disease, do you automatically become a "spokesperson" for heart disease in your workplace? Do you have to stand up in your cubicle & tell everyone you come into contact with from that day on about how to live with heart disease? No. I understand why Paula took so long in talking about her diabetes. She had to come to terms with it on all of her own personal levels first. She had to learn to deal with it's impact on HER way of life, her way of thinking & viewing food, her family. She also had a lot of personal changes she needed to address & work through. First & foremost this is about HER, not us. As far as remolding her recipes, well, there is just NO WAY she can immediately change her recipes around. They have to be worked on, retested & approved by an on-site dietician. It is a very slow process. And if anyone knows how to adapt Paula's recipes to their own low-fat, healthier, diabetic- style of cooking....but they choose to not do the adaptation and just make the dish the original way....then shame on them for not caring enough about themselves to go the extra mile for themselves and their own family. As far as Paula advocating a certain drug, so what? Lots of people use medications and tell their friends and families about them. If she gets reimbursed, that's fine.

[NJLiberalMom]

08:07 PM on 01/30/2012

Have you watched any other shows of Giada's?? I can't stand her and her cleavage but many, MANY of Giada's recipes are healthy. No one bats an eye when Giada made those Nutella ravioli (which I've made, they're very good) because not every recipe of hers is made from one pound of butter. That's the difference.

Almost every one of Paula's recipes are filled with fat and sugar. Many with heavy gravies or sauces....she brought this disease on herself.

[Ty Pekarik]

11:14 PM on 01/26/2012

First of all, it seems that anyone with common sense could figure out that Paula Deen's cooking show presents foods that are served at more special times than everyday lunches and dinners. I don't recall her ever saying that we should eat like that every day. I rarely eat butter but if I am going to eat toast once in a while, I want BUTTER on it. Secondly, why do people think we have a right to know a celebrity's health issues. There are extensive laws on the books to prevent people who don't need to know , no way to know. SPELLED HIPPA . It's her business what her health is. Are people so gullible to believe that so few of the stars are inflicted with any kind of illness? She , like everyone else has to come to terms with her choices...and in doing so make her own decisions. Paula Deen is filthy rich. She could have turned down the offer to advertise and support the product and kept her business to herself. I have an illness too ...it's called , people make me sick. Where can I find a sponsor?

[successmgr]

07:58 PM on 01/26/2012

This all seems simple to me:
1. Paula Deen should have had the integrity to be open about her health challenges up front so that she:
2. Could help people like her who have developed type II diabetes from a poor diet.
3. She would have likely had people supporting her for revealing that and instead of her son taming down her recipes SHE should have done it.
4. The best way to show our lack of respect for this type of failing is to:
5. Boycott all of the DEEN shows on the Food Network and
6. If you have diabetes and need medication tell your doctor to prescribe anything BUT Victoza and
7. If you are a Paul Deen fan fine, I have no problem with your choices but my choice is to promote integrity.
The End

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

01:59 PM on 02/25/2012

Thank you! That's the bottom line! Integrity is sorely missing in Ms. Deen's world and that of her sons.

F&F

[jshop]

07:24 PM on 01/26/2012

Cook what you want; eat what you want, Ms. Deen. And let every one of your deluded, holier-than-thou haters do the same! I'll still use your recipes from time to time and enjoy every fattening crumb when I do!

[AbsoluteTruthiness]

02:00 PM on 02/25/2012

Enjoy those diseases.

And by the way, can't you come up with anything better than 'haters' and 'holier than thou' for those who make GOOD choices in life?

[Mysticalsister]

04:46 PM on 01/26/2012

Ironically, watching Paula Deen's show actually helped me to eat better. The unhealthy recipes she encourages people to make were so disgusting and stomach churning that I was able to see the absurdity of some of my cravings. Too bad she didn't see the irony.

[RealityPer]

01:37 PM on 01/26/2012

What the heck is wrong with you people?

Your hatred for someone that simply has a cooking show on the foods from her childhood and her taste, is out of control. She is under no obligation to tell anybody about her personal ailments, nor disclose her endorsement for a medication that might or might not help her. I love watching her show, because she indulges in delish fattening foods. I don't eat that way, since I love my gym, but that doesn't give me, you or anybody else the right to verbally bash her "for not" telling you the food she cooks is fattening, or that she has diabetes.
GET A GRIP PEOPLE.
If you are not an educated consumer, knowledgeable of what is best for you as an individual, then you should really be angry at yourself.
THIS IS VERY STRANGE--that so many of you are angry over this--you need to re-evaluate, and move into perspective here.
FRANK BRUNI is the weirdest ever. I think he has Daddy issues

[ydbnj]

04:07 PM on 01/26/2012

You are completely wrong. She does have the obligation of telling her viewers that for the past 3 years she has been carrying a deadly yet completely irreversible disease if cared for. The reason? She advocates these fattening recipes "in moderation" to her millions of viewers.

It is no coincidence she has T2 Diabetes - her food is to blame.

Instead of pocketing a paycheck from Norvo, maybe she should have done what's right and preached healthy eating and changed her show/recipes accordingly.

[NJLiberalMom]

08:09 PM on 01/30/2012

Alton Brown did it, he admitted he was overweight (not that I ever noticed that, although he IS noticeably skinner now) and not eating the best and now many of his shows are about much healthier food. IF Paula had been THAT honest, she wouldn't be facing this backlash right now. It's actually pretty simple.

ydbnj hit it right on the head.

[dramaflickchick]

11:04 PM on 01/26/2012

The problem isn't her diet or that she didn't tell anyone about her diabetes. The problem is that she encouraged people to eat these fatty foods and then revealed her diabetes only when it was profitable to her. It's unethical. She's using her disease as a cash cow.