[UPDATED] Food Network Pulls the Plug On Paula Deen + Celebrity Chef Apologizes for Skipping Out On Matt Lauer

For the last two days, it’s been a ‘hot topic’. Allegedly, our beloved Paula Deen is, was or usta be an alleged racist. The quick and dirty is that the 66-year-old and her brother are being sued by a former employee (for racial and sexual discrimination by Lisa Jackson, who worked as a manager of their restaurant. During a deposition in May, Jackson’s lawyer asked Deen, 66, if she’d ever used the N-word. She said she had.) In a deposition for her current lawsuit Paula admits she used the racial slur in the past, but she absolutely would not use it today. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Paula Deen Enterprises released the following statement, explaining Paula’s racist, yet vintage, words:

During a deposition where she swore to tell the truth, Ms. Deen recounted having used a racial epithet in the past, speaking largely about a time in American history which was quite different than today. [Paula] was born 60 years ago when America’s South had schools that were segregated, different bathrooms, different restaurants and Americans rode in different parts of the bus. This is not today.

The statement continued that she

recounted having used a racial epithet in the past, speaking largely about a time in American history which was quite different than today. To be clear Ms. Deen does not find acceptable the use of this term under any circumstance by anyone nor condone any form of racism or discrimination.

Meanwhile, The Food Network, which broadcasts two popular shows featuring Deen and her Southern cooking, said it was keeping an eye on the flap resulting from her statements that have been widely criticized on social media.

Food Network does not tolerate any form of discrimination and is a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion. We will continue to monitor the situation.

What are your thoughts on Ms. Paula’s rationale for using the n-word? As she pointed out, she did grow up in a part of the country and time period when such words were used frequently, so are we surprised? And can we move on and forgive her? P.S. Will she be the next guest on Oprah’s ‘Next Chapter’? 

****UPDATED****

Friday morning, the Food Network announced that it will not renew its contract with Paula. Her contract with the network, which airs three shows featuring the chef, expires at the end of the month, it said. Earlier today, she also backed out of an interview with “Today” on NBC.

She later apologized and begged for forgiveness in a video on YouTube that she pulled and replaced with a self-produced video where she again apologized. Check it out below.

[Reuters, ABC News]