Despite being a best-selling book, an upcoming recipe book by Paula Deen has been pulled by its publisher following the scandal Deen finds herself in.
"After careful consideration, Ballantine Books has made the difficult decision to cancel the publication, 'Paula Deen's New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up,'" the publisher said in a statement.
Ballantine Books announced Friday it would not release Paula Deen's New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up, which was scheduled for October and was the first of a five-book deal announced early last year. The upcoming cookbook was already a No.1 seller on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.
Interest in it had surged as Deen, who grew up in Albany, Ga., and specializes in Southern comfort food, came under increasing attack for acknowledging she had used the N-word.
Deen said she's not a racist during a tearful Today show interview but has lost many of her business relationships. Sears Holdings Corp. and J.C. Penney Co. said Friday that they were cutting ties with Deen following similar announcements from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and Home Depot. The Food Network, which hosted her popular cooking show, dropped her from their channel last Friday.
Paula Deen admitted to using racist language as part of a $1.2 million lawsuit brought by Lisa Jackson, the former manager of a restaurant run by Deen and her brother Bubba Hiers. She is also accused to having a slave-themed wedding for her brother.
