Food Network Announces It Will Not Renew Paula Deen’s Contract

The Food Network has announced that it does not have plans to renew Paula Deen's contract at the end of June. This statement comes In the wake of a deposition given by Deen that admitted to using the N-word, tolerating racist jokes, and making derogatory comments about workers, amongst other things.

Food Network will not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires at the end of this month,

Deen has issued numerous apology videos via YouTube. One offered an apology for using inappropriate, hurtful language. Another showed Deen apologizing to Matt Lauer for failing to show up for a scheduled interview to discuss the things that she admitted to doing. The final video was similar to the second one, apologizing again to Lauer and for her actions.

Lauer claims that he spoke with Deen's people for most of the day before the interview, and made it clear that the sit down would be no holds barred.

We had arranged to do an interview with Paula Deen, it had been going on, the discussions about that interview, throughout the day yesterday with her people,” Lauer said in the show’s opening. “I spoke to her late afternoon on the phone yesterday and we talked about the fact that it would be an open and candid discussion, no holds barred.” Later, Lauer added, “She told me at one point… ‘I don’t know how to be anything but honest.

Deen's people blamed exhaustion for Paula being a no-show. All this controversy has come as a result of a lawsuit filed last year against Deen and her Brother Bubba Hiers by Lisa Jackson, a former manager of a restaurant owned by the the siblings claiming that while Deen was planning her brother's 2007 wedding she used derogatory language while addressing the waitstaff.

Well what I would really like is a bunch of little [N-words] to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties...now that would be a true Southern wedding, wouldn't it?

According to the deposition filed earlier this week, Deen denied using the N-word in that particular instance, but admitted that she had used it in other cases. As if that wasn't enough to hurt how Deen would be viewed by the public, her response that chalked up her actions as normal behavior being that she was an "old southerner" who was raised in "a different time" turned things from bad to worse.

I think I speak for just about everyone when I say that the "that's just the way things are/were down south" excuse is weak, and should never make racism "acceptable."

Do you think Deen deserved to be dropped by Food Network for her actions?

[via Today]