23: Vault: Was Paula Deen getting hit by ham a hoax?.

Summary

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The Bert Show – Episode 23 Vault: Was Paula Deen Getting Hit By Ham a Hoax?

Release Date: May 15, 2026
Cast: Bert (Host), Jeff, Jen, Tracy (caller), John (caller)
Main Theme: Debating whether Paula Deen was actually struck in the face with a ham or if the infamous incident has been exaggerated, exploring the difference between a "hit" and a "brush," and the reasons we let certain public figures, like Paula Deen, embellish their stories.

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, The Bert Show cast dives deep into the viral story of Paula Deen allegedly being hit in the face with a ham. Was it an actual hit or just a near miss blown out of proportion? With the original "ham-thrower" bailing on an interview, the team replays the footage, scrutinizes Paula’s own account, and debates the truth—while questioning why some celebrities get a "pass" when they stretch the facts. Listeners and callers weigh in, making for a fun, feisty, and nostalgic radio exchange.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Was It a Hit or a Brush?

• Host reveals the planned interview with Tim Sanders (the alleged ham-thrower) has fallen through (01:01).
• Jen and Jeff argue about whether it was a direct hit or a near miss (01:17–01:53).
  • Jen suggests Paula flinched, which would be natural if something flew near your face.
  • Jeff says it merely brushed her, possibly just her sweater or face, but not a direct hit.

Reviewing Paula Deen’s Own Story

• Clip of Paula Deen recounting the incident:

  "And he raised the ham up, but I thought he was going to pass it on down the line. ...And all of a sudden this ham that weighed 200 pounds hit me full on into the face and about knocked me cuckoo. But I'm fine. Maybe it knocked some sense into my head."
  (Paula Deen, quoted by Host, 02:25–02:40)

• Host critiques: “She’s exaggerating there a lot. I love me some Paula Deen, but she is exaggerating right there.” (02:48)

Video Analysis & Listener Inquiry

• Host reads listener feedback:
  The listener questions how someone could get hit in the nose with a full ham and not show injury, reporting that slow-mo video shows the ham brushes Paula’s chest and legs, not face. (02:55–03:29)

  "The ham does not hit her in the face. It’s a shame she had to lie about it.” (Email quoted by Host, 03:27)

• The cast jokes about Southern storytelling and embellishment:

  "Southern people tell big fish stories." (Jen, 02:55)

Why Do We Give Paula Deen a Pass?

• Jeff challenges Jen: Why is it okay for Paula to exaggerate but not, say, Michael Lohan or Jon Gosselin? (03:41–04:05)
• Jen’s defense: “Because I love Paula Deen.” (04:10)
• The running joke: "Leave Paula Deen alone," referencing viral leave-celebrity-alone videos (05:23).

Callers Weigh In

• Tracy (caller):

  "Being brushed and being hit are not the same thing... My 16-year-old got nailed in the nose by a softball being hit. She didn't get brushed in the nose. She got hit in the nose. There's a distinct difference." (Tracy, 04:28–04:45)

  • Tracy also loving Paula, but not overlooking the facts.
• John (caller):
  Questions Jeff’s motives for "picking on" Paula Deen, suggesting everyone has embellished a story before:

  "Have you not ever maybe stretched the truth a little bit or maybe made things seem a little more dramatic than what they are, but all of a sudden it's Paula Deen. Why are you choosing her to come down on?" (John, 06:20–06:34)

Bending the Truth, Celebrity Bias, and 'Respect Waivers'

• Host asserts:

  "You respectfully don't really call her out on it. ...Paula Deen has built up so much likable points that when she exaggerates in a story that she's obviously exaggerating about, you respectfully don't really call her out on it." (Host, 07:10–07:23)

• Jeff’s main point:

  "The tape don't lie, brother. She is on tape getting barely brushed by a ham. That's all I'm saying." (Jeff, 07:39)

• John on embellishment:
  "We made it so bad. Or somebody mentioned the fish story earlier. … Stretch the truth a little bit. And yes, you know, you've done the same thing." (John, 07:47–07:57)
• Host concludes:
  "You're allowed to... Some people get a waiver, a respect waiver, and it's obvious she didn't get pounded in the face like she explained." (Host, 08:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Paula Deen (as quoted):

  "All of a sudden this ham that weighed 200 pounds hit me full on into the face..." (02:35)

• Jen:

  "Southern people tell big fish stories." (02:55)

• Jeff:

  "Leave Paula Deen alone." (03:41)

• Tracy (caller):

  "Being brushed and being hit are not the same thing…" (04:28)

• Host:

  “You respectfully don’t really call her out on it. ...Paula Deen has built up so much likable points…” (07:10)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:01] — Show opens with the ham-thrower bailing on the interview
• [01:33] — Panel begins debating if Paula Deen was really hit
• [02:25] — Paula Deen’s own (exaggerated) retelling played and discussed
• [02:55] — Listener email and video analysis introduced
• [03:41] — Discussion: Why does Paula Deen get a pass?
• [04:28] — Caller Tracy distinguishes between “hit” and “brush”
• [06:20] — Caller John defends Paula, says everyone exaggerates
• [07:10] — Host and panel reflect on celebrity “respect waivers”
• [08:13] — Host concludes debate: people are allowed to embellish, especially Paula

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Summary

This episode of The Bert Show is a fun, opinionated romp through the urban legend of Paula Deen’s “ham in the face” moment. While scrutinizing Paula’s tale, the hosts debate what actually happened, whether it matters, and why Southern storytelling (and beloved Southern stars) get the benefit of the doubt. With plenty of laughs, sharp banter, and lively listener participation, it’s a classic example of the chemistry that makes The Bert Show a morning radio favorite.

Transcript

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[Host]

it's the virt show. We believe that Tim Sanders, the dude that threw the ham that hit Paula Deen in the face, has, has bailed on.

[Jeff]

Oh, no.

[Host]

He was all set to talk yesterday, but for whatever reason this morning, he's not talking.

[Jeff]

Maybe the hosea people got to him.

[Jen]

Stop picking up.

[Host]

Doesn't want to discuss.

[Jeff]

Yep, I bet he's at like the end zone of Meadowlands with Jimmy Hoffa. Listen, you will not, you will not talk about what you did to Paula Dean. Do you understand me? And then next thing you know, he's in the trunk of a car being driven to New Jersey and they've pinned

[Jen]

him down with Smithfield hams. Right.

[Host]

Some emailed yesterday and said that Paula didn't get hit at all.

[Jen]

Oh, come on.

[Host]

Jeff is one of them.

[Paula Deen (quoted)]

Oh, I didn't know it was being so.

[Jen]

It was her.

[Host]

No, it wasn't her saying, oh my God.

[Jeff]

Are you sure?

[Host]

Yeah, it was somebody else.

[Jen]

But it's, it's that boom.

[Jeff]

It's hitting her microphone. It's brushing her microphone on her sweater hobby. It goes by. It brushes her nose maybe.

[Jen]

I think it did. Cause you can see her head flinch.

[Jeff]

Yeah, because you would flinch too if something went right by your face that close. And I think she got startled. And then I think the way, you know, like to have a big reaction like that, you're like, it hit me in the nose and it didn't. It boop. Brushed her nose.

[Jen]

Well, brushing and hitting is really the same thing when you're getting hit by a ham. I agree at you and you don't know what's coming. Here's what she said and you're her age. You're getting hit by A ham.

[Paula Deen (quoted)]

And he raised the ham up, but I thought he was going to pass it on down the line. And I turned around to take another ham off the truck and turned around and all of a sudden this ham that weighed 200 pounds.

[Host]

200.

[Paula Deen (quoted)]

Hit me full on into the face and about knocked me cuckoo. But I'm fine. Maybe it knocked some sense into my head.

[Host]

Okay, now I will say she's exaggerating there a lot. I love me some Paula Deen, but she is exaggerating right there.

[Jen]

Southern people tell big fish stories.

[Host]

Okay, that I can buy. Because it didn't full on hit her in the face. It was a graze. Says, um, I was listening to the show today and found something strange about the fact that someone can get hit in the nose with a full ham and not get injured or hit in the face for that fact and not have a busted lip or bruise on the face. So I took a look at the video and then he slowed it down. And just before he hit her in the face, you'll see that the ham really just brushes her chest, then hits her leg passing clear away from her face. The ham does not hit her in the face. It's a shame she had to lie about it.

[Jeff]

She's got. She got startled.

[Jen]

Give her a break.

[Jeff]

Why is it okay for her to lie?

[Jen]

It's Paula Dean. Paula Dean. She got hit. Brushed hit, whatever. She got hit with a ham.

[Jeff]

Jen Hobby.

[Jen]

Leave Paula Deen alone.

[Jeff]

If this was not Paula Deen and it was Michael Lohan, well, he's ridiculous.

[Jen]

He would do it for publicity.

[Jeff]

Did he get.

[Jen]

Did he get. Paula Dean doesn't have to do it for publicity.

[Jeff]

Hold on all. My question is, if this is not Paula Deen and this is Michael Lohan or Jon Gosselin and that video happened, would you still be going? Leave Michael alone. Pam, brushing by your nose is just as bad.

[Jen]

Well, I think that anybody can be startled by it.

[Jeff]

A yes or no question. You liar.

[Jen]

Because I love Paula Deen.

[Host]

It is a brush or it's a grace.

[Jen]

Paula Deen, though. Leave her alone.

[Host]

It's not a shot in the face. Good morning.

[The RealReal Announcer]

She is.

[Jen]

She's 75 years old.

[Host]

Hey, Tracy. Good morning. On key 100. Okay. No, you're not. Oh, now you are.

[Tracy]

Now I am. Okay. Good morning, everybody. And Jen, I gotta say, I love you. First up. Okay, but being brushed and being hit are not the same thing. My 16 year old got nailed in the nose by a softball being hit. She didn't get brushed in the nose. She got Hit in the nose. There's a distinct difference.

[Host]

I think it's very evident. It's Paula Deen you're talking about.

[Jen]

Changing person.

[Tracy]

Anything is, I love Paula Dean, but where is she from anyway? Because she kind of gets on my nerve. That accent's just a little.

[John]

We can't have that.

[Jen]

Oh, she's sweet. Yeah. Leave Paula Dean alone, you guys. She's doing something good. She's doing something for charity. Somebody throws a ham at her, she gets startled. It hurts her. She says she got hit in the face with a ham. Leave her.

[Jeff]

Why is it I'm just older and

[Jen]

she gets a pass? Because she's sweet and cute and can cook really well.

[Jeff]

But you just need to. Wendy, you just need to acknowledge that she did not get hit, quote, full on in the face, as she said numerous times.

[Host]

Jen, I think you need to make one of those videos, one of those leave Paula Dean alone videos today and post it on your Facebook page.

[Jeff]

And you know what? If Paula ever came in studio, I would call her out on the same thing. I'd say, paula, come on. You just got startled, right? You just got startled a little bit. You got a little scared, and you may have overreacted. Draw some attention to the charity. That's great. I think that's awesome.

[Host]

It's Paula Deen, though, man. Give her a break. She gets a break.

[Jeff]

It's Paula Deen. I'm giving her the break. I just want the acknowledgment that the video, the CBS Atlanta video, that is the full long shot.

[Jen]

You're not cleansing.

[Jeff]

Your karma does not show a ham hitting Paula in the face.

[Host]

It's not a full on hit to the face. It's a brush.

[Jen]

I could help you cleanse your karma,

[Jeff]

Jeff $I question whether it even brushed her face. I think she just got scared.

[Host]

Hey, John, good morning.

[John]

Good morning. Hey, Jeff. Why do you have to be such an ass?

[Jeff]

How am I being an ass?

[Jen]

Thank you.

[Tracy]

Well, I mean, you ask for this

[John]

help with your karma the first thing in the. And have you not ever maybe stretched the truth a little bit or maybe made things seem a little more dramatic than what they are, but all of a sudden it's Paula Deen. Why are you choosing her to come down on?

[Jeff]

Okay, you know what? That's an interesting point. Let's say that you guys are sitting at home watching the news and you see a video of me and I had gone down to Hosea, feed the hungry, and next thing you know, I'm holding my lip and I'm going talking about how I got full on with a ham and all this stuff. And then you see that video.

[John]

Do I not get everything that's going on in the world today? Can you not pick something better than to pick on Paula Deen?

[Jeff]

Do I not get. And I'm asking the people in this room a lifetime.

[Host]

Bert, you're not. But you're not listening to his argument.

[Jen]

Paul. Paula de. 75 years old and likable.

[Host]

Right. You're not hearing his argument. Paula Deen has built up so much likable points that when she exaggerates in a story that she's obviously exaggerating about, you respectfully don't really call her out on it. You however, woman too.

[Jen]

There's a difference that.

[Host]

You lost me. You had me.

[Jen]

She's an older female.

[John]

She has worked to create. And it's like all of a sudden Jeff Dollar wants to come into the picture and say, wow, I've got dirt on Paula Dean. I think I'll destroy that.

[Jeff]

I don't have dirt. The tape don't lie, brother. She is on tape getting barely brushed by a ham. It's all I'm saying.

[John]

You yourself, and no doubt all of us have. We have, you know, we've been knocked down playing football or something.

[Jeff]

Yeah.

[John]

We made it so bad. Or somebody mentioned the fish story earlier.

[Jeff]

Yeah, without a doubt.

[John]

Stretch the truth a little bit. And yes, you know, you've done the same thing. Wow. Why is Paula Dean. What. What's the purpose of your mission here?

[Host]

This is such a ridiculous conversation. I have to end it eventually.

[Jeff]

Acknowledge the fact that Paula Dean stretched the truth.

[Host]

You're allowed to at Some people get a waiver, a respect waiver and the. It's obvious she didn't get pounded in the face like she explained.

[Jeff]

Thank you, Bird.

[John]

However.

[Jen]

Thank you, however.

[Host]

If that's the way she wants to describe it, she's Paula Deen.

[Jeff]

I'm cool with it and I'm fine with that. I'm just saying before you just accept that and go on with your life. It's time for you to question everything you know that's good. Paula Deen is one of those things. Look, this is the holiday season.

[Host]

I can't stand it.

[Jeff]

This is a time for loving Jesus.

[Host]

Everybody hates you.

[Jeff]

Get it?

[Host]

The Bird show.

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