Paula Deen's publicist quit?

Paula Deen has been fired by her publicist!

According to New York Post gossip column Page Six, PR powerhouse Nancy Assuncao quit working for Deen over the cook’s decision to admit she has diabetes in order to promote the drug Victoza.

Deen had kept her own Type 2 diabetes secret for three years, even as she pushed recipes full of sugar and fat.

“Nancy strongly disagreed with Deen’s dramatic turnabout,” a source said, “after years of promoting fatty foods, to announcing she has a deal with a diabetes drug company [Novo Nordisk] and will be promoting lighter food and ‘diabetes in a new light.’

“While Paula did tell some people at her live appearances about her diabetes, she certainly didn’t talk about it on her show. Nancy disagreed with Paula’s plan to be a drug-company spokesman and challenged her decision. But this wasn’t a battle Nancy felt she was going to win. She couldn’t be part of it.”

Nancy added, “I’m very grateful for the six years that I worked with Paula in helping her build the Deen brand.

“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.”