Paula Deen, who lost her Food Network television show and a number of endorsements over revelations that she used the N-word on a regular basis, compared herself to Michael Sam this week in an interview with People magazine:
"I feel like 'embattled' or 'disgraced' will always follow my name. It's like that black football player who recently came out," she tells People, referring to NFL prospect Michael Sam. "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 recently signed a $75 to $100 million business deal with an investment partner.