Paula Deen was one of the most popular celebrity chefs in America in the 2000s. At her peak, she had multiple best-selling cookbooks featuring her Southern-style of cooking and was one of the most recognizable faces on the Food Network. People would wait in line to eat at one of her restaurants, and she even had a best-selling line of cookware. Deen even ventured into acting with a high-profile role in the 2005 dramedy Elizabethtown.
Videos by Wide Open Country
However, this success was halted when Deen and her brother were sued by a former employee. The plaintiff alleged racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Although the suit was dismissed, the revelation that Deen had used the N-word in the past damaged her brand. It led to her contracts with the Food Network and other companies being canceled. Despite efforts to stage a comeback, public perception surrounding Deen has remained largely unchanged.
A new documentary aims to share Deen's side of the story. Titled Canceled: The Paula Deen Story, the film debuted at the Toronto Film Festival last week. She and her sons recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter to support the project.
Paula Deen Says She Was Forced to Apologize
One of the most revealing parts of the interview was when Deen said two men forced her to apologize after she admitted to using racial slurs.
She says she replied, "What am I apologizing for?"
Deen does not recall who the two men were. Her son Jamie interrupts, stating that Deen was not forced to apologize. She then continues her story.
"They took me upstairs and introduced me to these two men, and they said, 'You need to put out an apology.' And I said, 'What am I apologizing for? What am I supposed to be sorry about? I told the truth [at the deposition].'"
Deen has since said she understands why using the N-word is offensive, and it makes her shiver to hear it.
Why Did The Canceled Culinary Star Agree to A Documentary?
Deen believes that people only remember the story from the lawsuit, not her own account of the controversy.
"They took this woman [the plaintiff], who is a known liar, they took her word and ran with it, and no one ever investigated any further," said Deen. "I was not going to be happy until the world saw the truth."
She adds that she wanted to share the story from her perspective. While the article criticizes the documentary for being too sympathetic, Deen feels that the project allowed her to clear her conscience.
Says Deen, "I kind of want my soul back."
The film hasn't been picked up for distribution at this time.
