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Paula Deen‘s former business partners are experiencing a buttery backlash.
Fans of the embattled chef have started sending butter wrappers to Food Network, QVC and other companies that ended their relationships with Deen after she admitted she previously used the N-word.
The packages are designed to show people are “sticking with Paula,” the man behind the campaign, John Schmitt, told CNN.
STORY: Paula Deen Hires Hollywood Power Lawyer Patty Glaser
Schmitt, who created the “We Support Paula Deen” Facebook page, originally considered mailing actual sticks of butter but then realized the butter would melt and that doing so would be a waste of Deen’s favorite ingredient.
He and others have since sent wrappers to Food Network, QVC, Sears, Wal-Mart, Ballantine Books and other companies that dropped Deen, CNN reports.
Schmitt’s slogan is, “A corporation without Paula Deen is like a butter wrapper without butter.”
STORY: Paula Deen Parts Ways With Agent
“The butter itself is Paula, and these wrappers are void of butter just like these companies are void of Paula,” he told CNN.
Schmitt said he felt like companies that dropped Deen betrayed her, and he felt compelled to do something to express his disgust at the situation.
“She made a mistake 20 years ago,” he said. “We all make mistakes. I’ve said things I regret.”
Schmitt hasn’t gotten a response from the companies he sent butter wrappers to, but he can imagine their response.
“Perhaps somebody somewhere in mail rooms is keeping track,” Schmitt says. “I would’ve loved to see their face for the first one. Like, ‘Ew, is this butter?'”
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