Celebrity chef Paula Deen was effectively fired by the Food Network in the wake of her current racism scandal, and many of her fans recently took to social media to defend her and speak out against her contract not being renewed, TODAY reports.
Deen admitted to using the n-word and making racist remarks during her May 17 deposition, as the chef is currently being sued for $1.2 million by former restaurant manager Lisa Jackson for alleged racist behavior at her Georgia restaurant. Deen went on Youtube recently to post a number of public apology videos, begging her fans and followers to forgive her and explaining that she was "physically not able" to make her scheduled appearance on "The Today Show" due to the pain she was experiencing.
A number of fans over the weekend flooded the Food Network's Facebook page with criticism, some even calling for a boycott of the channel. "Show me an adult person who has not said the N word in his life, black or white," one commenter wrote. "You without sin cast the first stone."
"It is shameful the way you are treating Paula Deen," one fan wrote on the Food Network's official Facebook page. "Those of us who are her devoted fans are many, and I plan to follow her to the next network who picks her up! Sad, sad decision you are making." This comment, similar to many others, received hundreds of "likes" in agreement.
"I'm not surprised that Paula Deen's fans have reached out for her, but the Food Network is not that concerned about a few thousand people on social media,'' media analyst Steve Adubato said to NBC's TODAY on Monday. "They have to be concerned about sponsors."
Local residents also showed their support for Deen by coming in hordes to eat at her Savannah, Ga. restaurant, The Lady and Sons.
"I commend her by even apologizing,'' said diner Michael Schneller to TODAY outside the restaurant. "I know a lot of our political leaders in the nation can't even say they're sorry.''
Over the weekend, shopping channel QVC's vice president of corporate communications, Paul Capelli, made a public statement on the matter. "QVC shares the concerns being raised around the unfortunate Paula Deen situation,'' he said. "QVC does not tolerate discriminatory behavior. We are closely monitoring these events and the ongoing litigation. We are reviewing our business relationship with Ms. Deen, and in the meantime, we have no immediate plans to have her appear on QVC."
"I think she's going to have a much harder time than a Martha Stewart,'' said Adubato. "I think she is as close to dead as a brand as you can find out there. It could happen, but it's an incredibly long shot."
