Paula Deen Fans Send Butter Wrappers to Retailers That Dropped the Celeb Chef

New movement encourages supporters to participate in the act in hopes of companies restocking her product lines

By Bruna Nessif Jul 19, 2013 3:00 AMTags
Paula DeenAlex Oliveira/startraksphoto.com

Walmart, Kmart and Sears are just a few retailers that will be receiving a number of butter wrappers in the mail.

In an effort to butter up (get it?) the companies that dropped Paula Deen after her N-word controversy, fans of the celeb chef have taken part in what's called "Butter for Paula," where they are encouraged to send butter wrappers with a written message to the stores to show their support for the Southern cook (fun fact: Deen released her own line of butter shortly before the scandal).

According to the website created for the movement, "A company without Paula is like a wrapper without butter," and continues to state, "These corporations have cut ties with Paula, and no longer broadcast her television shows, or carry her products. We have the power to demand that her status be reinstated, and it's easier than you think.

"Join the National Butter Wrappers for Paula Protest now to tell these corporations that you want Paula Deen back on the shelves and back on your television."

The campaign has been organized by John Schmitt, a hotel auditor in Indianapolis, who has also started a Facebook page called "We support Paula Deen" on June 21 that already has more than 600,000 "likes."

Additionally, Schmitt joined Stitches ‘N Dishes, a California food truck company, to sell Paula Deen products and give the proceeds to Deen's charity, The Bag Lady Foundation.

Peter Kramer/NBC

Schmitt wrote on the Facebook page, "'I think back on those tough times and remember how hard we worked to pull ourselves up by our boot-straps. It was a difficult time for us, but an experience that made me and my sons stronger.'~ Paula Deen.

"And, that's why she named The Bag Lady Foundation after her first business. The foundation is Paula's passion - she created it to help people in poverty and empower them. Stitches 'n Dishes is sponsoring a fundraiser for The Bag Lady Foundation. Give what you can, if you can. Even sharing this helps tremendously. They've also got some nice Paula Deen products as gifts for contributions over $50. :-)"

Nearly a dozen companies have cut ties with Deen—including JCPenney, Walgreens, QVC and The Food Network—after admitting to past use of the N-word and to telling what could be perceived as racist jokes during an admission in a video deposition as part of a $1.2 million lawsuit filed against her by a former employee.

Since the scandal and witnessing her career crumble, Deen has fired her agent and legal team and hired an entire new group of legal "heavy hitters" to take on the case.