AP Photo/J. Pat CarterAnother bad day for Paula Deen.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which operates Paula Deen-themed restaurants at four of its properties, announced on Wednesday that it has decided to cut ties with the embattled celebrity chef in the wake of the N-word controversy that erupted last week.
"While we appreciate Paula's sincere apologies for statements she made in her past that she recently disclosed during a deposition given in response to a lawsuit, after thoughtful consideration of their impact, 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 vice president of communications and government affairs for Caesars Entertainment in a statement.
Caesars intends to rebrand the restaurants in the coming months.
The news comes in the wake of Deen's appearance on Wednesday's Today show during which the food star insisted she is not racist. The decision by Caesars also comes on the heels of the 66-year-old being dropped by the Food Network as well as by Smithfield Foods.
However, all is not lost.
The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show, an annual culinary exhibition, is still sticking by Deen.
"Paula Deen has been a friend ot The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show for many years," MetroCooking said in a statement on its website. "She has apologized and we are taking her apology at her word and moving forward accordingly. MetroCooking does not condone or believe in the use of derogatory slurs by anyone. This is a nation of forgiveness and second chances. In that spirit we intend to go forward with the MetroCooking Shows in Houston, Dallas and Washington, DC as planned with Paula as a presenter. At this time we have no plans to do otherwise."
Deen is slated to appear at the MetroCooking show in D.C. on Nov. 2.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Glenn Beck defended Deen on his Blaze.com Web show, saying "the media pounced on this violation of political correctness, and that's all this is." The conservative pundit added, "Paula Deen could very well be a racist, I don't know, but you don't either."