Paula Deen's Food Network contract won't be renewed

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

So 66 year old Paula admits having she may have used the N word in the past or told a racist joke, although not in along time. She admits using the Nword to describe a black man who had a gun pointed to her head years ago. She is fired immediately. We so have a double standard in this country.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57590532/paula-deens-food-network-contract-wont-be-renewed/

Paula Deen's Food Network contract won't be renewed

he Food Network said Friday it's dumping Paula Deen, barely an hour after the celebrity cook posted a videotaped apology online begging forgiveness from fans and critics troubled by her admission to having used racial slurs in the past.

Play VIDEO

Paula Deen posts video apology for using racial slurs

The 66-year-old Savannah kitchen celebrity has been swamped in controversy since court documents filed this week revealed Deen told an attorney questioning her under oath last month that she has used the N-word. "Yes, of course," Deen said, though she added, "It's been a very long time."

The Food Network, which made Deen a star with "Paula's Home Cooking" in 2002 and later "Paula's Home Cooking" in 2008, weighed in with a terse statement Friday afternoon.

"Food Network will not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires at the end of this month," the statement said. Network representatives declined further comment.

The news came as Deen worked to repair the damage to her image.

In a video clip, posted Friday, the 66-year-old Food Network star said, "I want to apologize to everybody for the wrong that I've done. I want to learn and grow from this."

Play VIDEO

Paula Deen admits to racial slur

Earlier Friday, Deen was a no-show for a scheduled appearance on the "Today" show where she was expected to discuss the issue. She released a second video Friday afternoon explaining why she didn't appear on "Today."

"I was invited this morning to speak with Matt Lauer about a subject that has been very hurtful for a lot of people," Deen said. "And Matt, I have to say, I was physically unable this morning. The pain has been tremendous that I have caused to myself and to others."

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Paula Deen

She added, "I want people to understand that my family and I -- we're not the kind of people that the press is wanting to say we are."

Court records show Deen sat down for a deposition May 17 in a discrimination lawsuit filed last year by a former employee who managed Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, a Savannah restaurant owned by Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers. The ex-employee, Lisa Jackson, says she was sexually harassed and worked in a hostile environment rife with innuendo and racial slurs.

The transcript of Deen's questioned by an attorney for Jackson shows she was peppered with questions about her racial attitudes. At one point she's asked if she thinks jokes using the N-word are "mean." Deen says jokes often target minority groups and "I can't, myself, determine what offends another person."

Deen also acknowledges she briefly considered hiring all black waiters for her brother's 2007 wedding, an idea inspired by the staff at a restaurant she had visited with her husband. She insisted she quickly dismissed the idea.

But she also insisted in her legal deposition that she and her brother have no tolerance for bigotry.

"Bubba and I, neither one of us, care what the color of your skin is" or what gender a person is, Deen said. "It's what's in your heart and in your head that matters to us."

[VanessaTony 3,567]

It doesn't mention that the employee claiming racism is white (she's claiming racism against black people which is why her being white is relevant), and that she worked there for 5 years and stopped working there in 2010. It was reported she claimed that because she has bi-racial relatives that she is "more offended by racism than a normal white person".

So 3 years after she stopped working there (they don't mention anywhere that I've found WHY she stopped working there) suddenly she's offended? She was able to work there for 5 years without being so offended she needed to leave... I don't believe her.

Edited June 23, 2013 by VanessaTony

[Karee 4,190]

This country is losing it's collective mind.

[RGinWA 816]

Entertainment channels are sensitive for a reason; they lose sponsors.

I don't see the big deal. People lose jobs for less...

Jimmy the Greek lost his job for stating a fact about slavery and the modern black athlete. This was a fact that African American's actually acknowledged was true and I don't remember any uproar about it. But the network and Jimmy parted ways over the comment.

Hey, its one of those words you shouldn't be saying.

Edited June 23, 2013 by RGinWA

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

DGAF

[RGinWA 816]

DGAF

Haha...now they have a spot for another show on BBQ...see everyone wins, even the heart surgeons. lol

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Entertainment channels are sensitive for a reason; they lose sponsors.

I don't see the big deal. People lose jobs for less...

Jimmy the Greek lost his job for stating a fact about slavery and the modern black athlete. This was a fact that African American's actually acknowledged was true and I don't remember any uproar about it. But the network and Jimmy parted ways over the comment.

Hey, its one of those words you shouldn't be saying.

I could see it if she said it she said it currently. She is 66 and raised in the South. She just did not lie and admitted she has said it in past but not in a long time. I doubt there are many 66 year old white people in the South that have not used that word. It seems that only white people are held to this impossible standard.

I mean Robert Byrd was a former Klan member, but it was no big deal.

Where Paula messed up was apologizing.

[X Factor 1,112]

I kind of liked the ole gal cooking show...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This falls into the "Why I don't have TV for the last 30 years" category.

But firing her will no doubt make life much better for America's black population. Probably will help women too.

[Darnell 8,478]

you can always order a years worth of her videos from the Food Network - don't forget !

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It doesn't mention that the employee claiming racism is white (she's claiming racism against black people which is why her being white is relevant), and that she worked there for 5 years and stopped working there in 2010. It was reported she claimed that because she has bi-racial relatives that she is "more offended by racism than a normal white person".

So 3 years after she stopped working there (they don't mention anywhere that I've found WHY she stopped working there) suddenly she's offended? She was able to work there for 5 years without being so offended she needed to leave... I don't believe her.

She could not possibly be more offended by racism than me. I am pretty much constantly offended by it. I don't have any bi-racial relatives but still...oh yeah, I am majorly offended. Can I sue someone? It is a burden to bear, being so offended in defense of other people.

I make no claim to be a "normal white person". I care.

I mostly don't have TV so I can reduce my offended-ness.

you can always order a years worth of her videos from the Food Network - don't forget !

Yay! Better hurry!

Edited June 24, 2013 by Gary and Alla