Posted on 06/26/2013 7:08:49 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The celebrity chef loses two more business partners hours after her “Today” interview.
Another two bite the dust.
Caesars Entertainment Corporations and Walmart have become the latest organizations to cut ties with former Food Network personality Paula Deen in the wake of a racial slur scandal.
Both groups made their announcements on Wednesday, just hours after Deen offered a tearful mea culpa in an interview with Matt Lauer on Today.
While we appreciate Paula’s sincere apologies for statements she made in her past … we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time,” said Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vp communications and government affairs at Caesars Entertainment.
Caesars currently operates four Deen-themed restaurants at its casinos nationwide: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Harrah's Tunica in Mississippi, Harrah's Joliet in Illinois and Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina.
Walmart, meanwhile, put it simply: “We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed.”
While Deen has already been dropped by the Food Network and Smithfield Foods, which previously sold a ham with Deen’s name and face on the packaging, seven of Deen’s business partners have also voiced their support of the celebrity chef amid the critical firestorm.
"Her appearance on the Today show clearly proved her authentic belief that all people should be treated equal,” read a statement from Epicurean Butter, which produces Deen’s “Southern Grillin’ Butter.” “Paula is due equal treatment as well, as a person that made a mistake, apologized for it and should be allowed to move on. Actions speak louder than words, let's focus on the good that Paula Deen does for the extended community of loyal followers."
Deen remains embroiled in a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former restaurant employee, but has vehemently dismissed charges of racism. In a recently unearthed deposition, Deen admits to having used the N-word in the past, but claims that she would never use the term today.
Ask Rush Limbaugh and Don Imus! It is a sad PC world we live in. There are so many things I'd like to say but I do believe I would be kicked even off this forum.
“....she just told filthy, foul-mouthed jokes that weren’t even funny.”
At a Food Network event? That’s really kind of shocking to me. I would be appalled to have an experience like that.
Hubby and I were never fans of Ms. Deen, but what you describe is the last thing I’d have expected from her.
Damn good points. Instead of going on Today, she should have had her publicist issue a statement, offering a generic apology, and that she would be staying out of the public eye for an indeterminate time.
Within a few months, this kerfuffle would be on the ashheap of history. No doubt she'd still lose her commercial gigs, but she would have saved herself the Tammy Bakker-like spectacle.
I've never spent one dime on her books, or watched any of her shows. I've got no dog in the hunt, except for a bit of schadenfreude over another Obama-bot being thrown under the bus.
Never have bought any of her stuff. Actually watched her show several times but not recently. I think her accent is fake. I live in SC and we don’t sound like her. But she is self-made, worked hard and became successful. I admire that. That hypocritical idiots can destroy her makes me mad.
Deen has either been very clever or very lucky that the MSM has not mentioned him. Her n-word usage is chump change compared to his behavior at HER restaurant. She knows that virtually everyone has used the n-word a time or 2, therefore she will be forgiven quickly for this minor "mis-speak".
This n-word “controversy” is a ruse to avoid talking about Bubba. Unfortunately for Deen, her business partners have likely read the complaint & understand that the far bigger “sin” of Paula Deen is allowing her brother to abuse young people of both sexes & all races for YEARS, though she, her lawyer, & her CPA had received multiple complaints from employees.
Now, some people may think abusing restaurant workers is no big thing, but I would remind them that their children often work in restaurants while in school. Wait staff are usually young women.
Is this company, where porn videos are played openly in front of employees, a place you would want you children or grandchildren to work? Is it appropriate for your child's boss to grab him/her by the neck & scream obscenities? Is Bubba someone you would employ or someone you would fire immediately?
All of the above is alleged in the complaint, as is the alleged use of the n-word, & much more. If it is true, Paula Deen allowed this to go on for years - not such a sweet, charming, motherly thing to do.
Read the complaint. It's quite interesting. Notice that the n-word usage by PD is but a zit on this elephant's butt of a complaint. Also note that Deen is an Obama supporter. So, it makes sense that the Obama MSM would only report the smallest, least significant aspect of the lawsuit.
The legal complaint: http://www.atlawblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Jackson-v.-Deen-et-al.-Complaint.pdf
I watch everything I say/email/post. There are lots of things I’d like to say also. I’m old enough to remember Communism when it was in OTHER countries, and so thankful I lived in the UNITED STATES. This is not free America any more. Those who could have stopped this, would not. They walk carefully and speak correctly also. The anger that is among those who KNOW what is happening......
The younger generation do not know what they are going to live under if they continues to do that careful walk and correct speak.
Unimaginable that it was so easy.
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