Southern Cooking Star Paula Deen Caught In Racism Scandal
The manager, Lisa T. Jackson, has accused Deen of racial discrimination and her brother Earl W. “Bubba” Hiers of sexual harassment, according to the Savannah Morning News. Jackson also accused Deen's husband of being physically abusive.
The National Enquirer says it obtained a recorded copy of a May 17 deposition related to the lawsuit, and quotes from the alleged recording certainly don't seem to help Deen's case.
In response to a question about whether Deen have ever used the N-word, she said "yes, of course," and also admitted to telling racist jokes, according to the Enquirer.
She reportedly said: "It’s just what they are — they’re jokes ... most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks ... I can’t determine what offends another person."
The full Enquirer story doesn't appear to be online, but FOX News obtained some quotes that the tabloid says are from the deposition.
According to FOX, Deen also reportedly wanted black people to play slaves for a wedding she was planning. She said the idea came from a restaurant: "The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie. ... It was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America ... after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War ... It was not only black men, it was black women ... I would say they were slaves," Fox reported, citing the Enquirer.
Hiers, Deen's brother, also allegedly admitted to using the N-word to describe President Barack Obama, according to FOX.
TMZ has also posted quotes from the deposition that give a more complete picture of her comments. In response to questions about her use of the N-word, she reportedly said: "That's just not a word that we use as time has gone on. Things have changed since the '60s in the south. And my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior. As well as I do."
Deen's representative gave TMZ this statement: "Ms. Deen does not condone or find the use of racial epithets acceptable. She is looking forward to her day in court."
News of the deposition has spawned a Twitter trending topic with the hashtag #PaulasBestDishes. Sarcastic suggestions include Lynchin' Lemonade and Mason-Dixon Macaroons.