Celebrity food personality Paula Deen, who is facing multiple accounts of racism in a lawsuit against her, tried to defend herself against what she called "horrible, horrible lies" about her in an nationally televised interview on the "Today" Show on Wednesday.
"I believe that every creature on this Earth, every one of God's creatures, was created equal," she said. "I believe that everyone ought to be treated equal. I've had to hold friends in my arms while they've sobbed. Because they know what's being said about me -- it's not true. And I'm having to comfort them, and tell them it's going to be all right. If God got us to it, he'll get us through it."
A lawsuit filed against Deen by Lisa T. Jackson, a former manager of Deen's restaurants in Savannah, Georgia, alleged that Deen and her brother Bubba Hier committed numerous acts of violence, discrimination and racism resulting in to the end of her tenure at Deen's Lady & Sons and Uncle Bubba's Oyster House eateries in Savannah.
In a deposition for the lawsuit, Deen was asked whether she had ever used the "N-word." Deen answered that she had probably used the racial slur when talking to her husband about "when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head;' an incident that took place 30 years ago.
"It's very distressing for me to go into my kitchens and I hear what these young people are calling each other. ... Because I think for this problem to be worked on, that these young people are going to have to take control and start showing respect for each other and not throwing that word at each other. It makes my skin crawl," she told Matt Lauer on Wednesday.
Jackson's lawsuit also claims Deen wanted to plan a party in the style of a Southern plantation, staffed with black waiters dressed to resemble slaves.
"I did not mean anything derogatory by saying I loved their look and their professionalism," saying that she wanted an "experience [of] a very Southern style wedding such as that."
The Food Network dropped Deen, as did Smithfield Foods, one of her key sponsors. Also, Caesars Entertainment Corp. said Wednesday that it is ending its relationship with her. There are questions now over whether other businesses, including QVC and Walmart, may soon cut ties with Deen, a Southern cooking senation on the Food Network.
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