Paula Deen Loses Ham Endorsement Deal Amid 'N-Word' Controversy

Paula Deen is facing yet another casualty of her "n-word" scandal.

The former Food Network chef has lost her endorsement deal with pork company Smithfield, which for many years has sold a ham with Deen’s name and face on it.

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“Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind,” the company said in a statement. “Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen. Smithfield is determined to be an ethical food industry leader, and it is important that our values and those of our spokespeople are properly alligned.”

The split comes in the wake of Deen’s sworn deposition, in which she admitted to using "the n-word” in the past. Deen and her brother are being sued by a former employee for creating a hostile work environment, including racial slurs, in their Savannah, Ga., eateries.

Deen since has released multiple public apologies and is scheduled to appear on the Today show this week, where she will be interviewed by Matt Lauer.

 

'The Heat' Director Paul Feig Reacts to Melissa McCarthy Photoshop Controversy: 'It's a Bummer'

Paul Feig at "The Heat" premiere

The Heat director Paul Feig is defending his star in the wake of a Photoshop controversy that found Melissa McCarthy’s image significantly altered in a promotional image for the film.

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“It’s a bummer,” Feig told The Huffington Post when asked about the incident. “I love Melissa exactly how she is.”

Feig acknowledged that one of the problems in that situation is that he has “very little to do with” the marketing materials, “especially in the foreign markets.”

The image in question (a poster for the film’s U.K. release) featured a significantly slimmed down, nearly unrecognizable McCarthy next to her co-star, Sandra Bullock.  Some critics estimated that photo editors had shaved up to 30 pounds from McCarthy’s face and frame.

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McCarthy joked about the drama while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the film's New York premiere.

"Ben did it," she said, referring to her husband Ben Falcone. "We had a big fight about it because I said I wanted it 80 percent smaller and he said he wanted it 70 percent."

In his interview with HuffPo, Feig also compares McCarthy to comedy veteran Steve Carell and discusses how Bullock adapted to the improv-heavy environment. Read the full piece here.

The Heat opens nationwide on June 28.