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-- Karl Wolff III, Director of Communications, NSP. 1488!
41 minutes ago
When asked by Lauer whether she was a racist, Deen replied simply, "No." Then she added, "I believe that … every one of God’s creatures was created equal. I believe that everyone should be treated equal, that’s the way I was raised and that’s the way I live my life"
When Lauer asked if Deen, who was let go from the Food Network Friday, believed her offense was a fireable one, Deen said it was not.
"Would I have fired me? Knowing me? No," she said. "I am so very thankful for the partners I have who believe in me."
The fallout from Deen’s admission that she’s used the N-word and had considered throwing a “plantation-style” wedding – which came to light during a legal deposition on May 17 and went public early last week – was fast and furious. By Friday, Food Network announced it was canceling Deen’s contract, after she failed to appear for a scheduled interview with Lauer and started posting a series of strange apology videos on YouTube.
By Monday, Smithfield Foods terminated its partnership with her, and QVC, Sears and Target were all reevaluating their relationship with the Southern star, who raked in $17 million in 2012 through all her ventures and was the fourth highest paid chef last year, according to Forbes.
"I don’t know, I have asked myself that so many times," Deen said. "I go into my kitchens and hear what these young people are calling each other ... it’s very distressing for me. I think for this problem to be worked on, these young people are gonna have to take control and start showing respect for each other."
And while Deen said during the deposition that she was "sure" she'd used the N-word more than once, she told Lauer she had only used it to describe an incident in 1986, when she says she was held at gunpoint by a black man. When Lauer pressed her about the inconsistency, Deen insisted that was the only time "in my 66 years on Earth that I have used it.”
After the interview, Lauer commented on air: "Without breaking any confidence …Paula was extremely, extremely emotional here in the studio after we went to commercial."
Fans and chefs have been divided over Deen’s comments and the consequences she’s faced. Thousands of people have posted on Food Network’s Facebook page to defend the celebrity chef, while others, including “Bizarre Foods” host Andrew Zimmern, have applauded the company for taking swift action to cut ties with her.
Former Food Network colleagues like Aaron McCargo, Jr., who is black, voiced support for Deen via social media. “Paula has always been very helpful and supportive throughout my career and as her friend, I’m saddened to see that she is going through a tough time right now,” McCargo wrote on Facebook Monday. “We are all human and we should never be quick to judge anyone...”
For some Southern chefs, the real tragedy is that this scandal has rocked the region in the court of public opinion.
“To say things like, ‘that’s just the way it’s always been’ is not only inaccurate, but far worse, it is lazy,” wrote Louisville, Ky.-based chef Edward Lee, who blends Korean and Southern traditions at his restaurant, 610 Magnolia. “The South that I live and travel in is one that is buoyed by diversity, acceptance, generosity and love — the people and kitchens of the American South have enriched my life with culture and respect.”
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