Paula Deen is continuing to feel the backlash from her racial slur controversy. The celebrity chef was fired from the Food Network this afternoon.
Paula is being sued by the former manager of her restaurant. She’s accusing Paula of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment filled with innuendo and racial slurs. During her deposition for the $1.2 million lawsuit, Paula admitted to using the “n” word in the past and didn’t try to downplay it. You can read a breakdown of Paula’s craziest admissions from the deposition here.
After her deposition hit the web and angered fans and non-fans alike, Paula planned a sit down with Matt Lauer this morning to talk about it, but she backed out at the last minute. Paula shared in her first apology, “I was invited this morning to speak with Matt Lauer about a subject that has been very hurtful for a lot of people. And Matt, I have to say, I was physically not able this morning. The pain has been tremendous that I have caused to myself and to others. So, I’m taking this opportunity, now that I’ve pulled myself together and am able to speak, to offer an apology to those I have hurt.”
This afternoon, right before the Food Network announced they wouldn’t renew her contract at the end of this month, Paula released a video apology, begging for forgiveness. “I want to apologize to everybody for the wrong that I’ve done. I want to learn and grow from this. Inappropriate, hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners – I beg for your forgiveness. Please forgive me for the mistakes that I’ve made.”
Do you think the Food Network made the right choice? Did Paula’s deposition statements mark the end of her TV career?
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