SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Food Network said Friday it’s dumping Paula Deen, barely an hour after the celebrity cook posted the first of two videotaped apologies online begging forgiveness from fans and critics troubled by her admission to having used racial slurs in the past.
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. A representative for Deen did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment on the decision.
So much for being truthful. I can’t imagine anyone Deen’s age growing up in the south who hasn’t used that word at some point, even if just to quote someone. People of Deen’s age were exposed to the word before they were conscious of its offensiveness.
If Deen’s truthfulness is all she is being kicked to the curb over, then the food network needs to go also. Words are words, especially words used in the past. It’s whats in a person’s heart and their treatment of others that counts.
““Inappropriate, hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable,” Deen said in the first 45-second video posted on YouTube. “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.”
If there is a specific incident where Deen has made racist comments, then I reserve the right to modify my position. Until that time, let’s not punish Paula Deen for being honest.
Is she being sued for using the n word? I don’t like that word either, but a
Job loss? Not sure I understand why thus came to begin with.
She was being sued by an employee in one of her restraurants. But to answer your question, no, not specifically for using the N word. She was ask if she ever had said the word.
Allegations include: ethnic/racist jokes, making some employes use specific restrooms, husband flashing porn photos around….planning a “real southern plantation” wedding. All allegations but quite a few of them. We’re not talking about the sixties.
The Food Network employs a number of minority chefs on their programing as well as shows featuring ethnic cuisine. One has to wonder if her presense is would create an “uneasy atmosphere” for these other people.
Food Network should consider instituting polygraphs for all of their employees and chefs, to make absolutely sure that none of them ever made off-color racial or ethnic jokes decades ago before they renew their contracts. They’re setting a very high bar for speech purity.
I agree, Emma. Look, I don’t even like Paula Deen. I just happen to be a sucker for fair play and I really don’t like setting a bar that high that anyone who has ever been on the food channel has never said anything off color, racially insensitive or politically incorrect.
I am assuming that word ‘ever’ includes childhood also.
Here is one man’s point of view. I agree with some of it. I think perhaps he brings us too far along as a society. I don’t think things have progressed nearly as much as he states:
http://jonathanturley.org/2013/06/22/the-name-that-may-not-be-spoken-paula-deenthe-n-word-and-the-60s-south/
The “N” word is the “Mohamed” of America. Say it and you and your family will suffer for eternity. The response for saying it here is just as ridiculous as the response for mocking Mohamed in the middle East. How many people of color have ever lost their livelihood for uttering the “H” word? Always, but always a double standard. People are human, and will sometimes use the most derogatory words possible in a heated verbal battle with someone, but that’s rarely held against them because human emotion is a powerful thing, and we’ve all been there. So if you’re mugged and beaten by a person of color some dark night (as if that never happens) be sure that whatever you do you don’t refer to them using the “N” word otherwise no one will have the least bit of sympathy for you even though the culprit may have been the embodiment of the “N” word. Just lay over that barrel and refer to him as the “gentleman” in question, and all will be fine.