Paula Deen Parts Ways With Agent

Paula Deen has parted ways with the agent who helped her launch her media empire as the fallout continues from the celebrity chef's admission that she previously used the N-word.

Deen had worked with New York agent Barry Weiner for more than a decade, and she said he was instrumental in getting her show Paula's Home Cooking on the Food Network, according to The Associated Press.

"Paula Deen has separated from her agent," Deen's spokeswoman, Elana Weiss, said in an email obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. "She and her family thank him for the tireless effort and dedication over the many years."

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

Deen, who has lost numerous business deals since news of her racist statement emerged, offered no reason for her parting with Weiner and didn't blame him for her recent woes, saying simply "Paula wishes him well in all future endeavors."

In the weeks following news that Deen had used the N-word, admitted under oath in a deposition, the Food Network declined to renew her contract when it expired at the end of June and pulled her shows from the air. She was also dropped by business partners, including Sears, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, The Home Depot and ham company Smithfield Foods. Her publisher Ballantine also canceled plans for her upcoming cookbook, even though advance purchases made it the No. 1 seller on Amazon.

Paula Deen's Book Canceled Before Publication

In her book, Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin', she recalls meeting Weiner through TV producer Gordon Elliott and how they both thought she could be a star, the AP explains.

"Barry and Gordon felt like there was a show somewhere inside this Paula character that could be very successful," Deen wrote. "They probably courted Food Network for two years trying to push me at them."

Deen also wrote in her book, "Barry is affectionately known in my family as Barry Cuda. Perfect name for an agent."

Paula Deen Dropped by Sears, Kmart

The blows keep on coming for Paula Deen, who has been dropped by two more retail giants.

Sears Holdings, which owns Sears and Kmart, said Friday that both retailers would be cutting ties with the former Food Network personality in the wake of her N-word controversy.

“After careful consideration of all available information, we have made the decision to phase out all products tied to [Paula Deen’s] brand,” reads the statement, first obtained by TMZ. It added, however, “We will continue to evaluate the situation.”

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

Both stores currently carry Deen’s cookware and dishware lines.

Deen has lost a handful of high-profile business partners in the past few weeks, including Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Smithfield Foods, Caesars Entertainment and QVC. The Food Network, meanwhile, opted not to renew Deen’s contract.

The Southern TV cook has faced widespread outrage and dwindling endorsement deals since a deposition was released last week in which she admitted to in the past using a racial slur for African-Americans and discussed her wish to mount a "true Southern plantation-style" wedding.

But it’s not all bad news for Deen. In the midst of her scandal, Deen’s forthcoming cookbook has surged to the top of Amazon’s best-seller list, and fans continue to buy tickets to her 2014 cruise.

 

Paula Deen loses two major deals

Paula Dean in happier times. Her recent racial slur controversy has given the celebrity chef little to smile about.

In the latest blow, Walmart (WMT, Fortune 500), the world's largest retailer announced late Wednesday that it cut its ties to the embattled cooking star.

"We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed. We will work with suppliers to address existing inventories and agreements."

Walmart sold Paula Deen branded baked goods, cookware, dishware and kitchen appliances. This news comes on the heels of an announcement made by Caesars Entertainment Corporation Wednesday morning that it too will end its relationship with Deen.

Caesars (CZR, Fortune 500) operates Paula Deen-themed restaurants at four of its casinos: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Harrah's Tunica in Mississippi, Harrah's Joliet in Illinois and Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina.

"While we appreciate Paula's sincere apologies for statements she made in her past ... we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time," said Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of communications and government affairs for Caesars Entertainment.

Related: Orders for Paula Deen cookbook surge

Deen's troubles began when almost two weeks ago when a deposition in a discrimination lawsuit was released in which she admitted using the n-word in the past. Dean has insisted she does not tolerate prejudice, but her apologies have failed to suppress the controversy.

Last week the Food Network said it wouldn't renew Deen's contract when it expires at the end of the month. Pork producer Smithfield Foods, with a line of Deen-branded hams, dropped her as a spokeswoman on Monday.

Twitter: @sajilpl

Paula Deen Cruise Forges Full Steam Ahead

Despite rough waters in the wake of Paula Deen's N-word scandal, the embattled celebrity chef's cruise line is poised to forge ahead with two trips booked for 2014.

A representative for the company told Fox News in a statement that the annual Paula Deen Cruise remains in popular demand, with an additional journey planned for next year because of "so many requests from Paula's fans in the past." Added the rep: "It's always an amazing time with Paula, her family and fans. If she goes – we go."

Calls and emails to Royal Caribbean PR were not immediately returned Tuesday.

STORY: Anne Rice Defends Paula Deen Against 'Lynch Mob Culture'

Meanwhile, other pieces of Deen's empire have begun to unravel since the 66-year-old culinary star admitted to having used the N-word during a deposition in a discrimination lawsuit brought by a former restaurant employee. Last week, the Food Network -- which housed her TV series for more than a decade -- said it would not renew her contract when it expires at the end of the month. Then, on Monday, she lost her endorsement deal with pork company Smithfield, which for many years has sold a ham with Deen’s name and face on it.

The status of her business relationships with companies that carry her cookware line and other products -- such as Target, Sears, Walmart and QVC -- remains up in the air. As for her bimonthly magazine, Cooking With Paula Deen, Hoffman Media remains mum on whether it will continue the publication and has maintained it does not condone "discrimination of any kind." And although Deen is set to release a new book, Paula Deen's New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up, in mid-October, Random House says it's "closely monitoring the situation" surrounding the comfort-food icon.

On Tuesday, her sons Jamie and Bobby, who have their own Food Network show, Road Tasted, defended their mother in an interview with CNN. Said Bobby: "We were raised in a family of love and of faith and a house where God lived. Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted towards any other person for any reason. … Frankly, I'm disgusted by the whole thing because it began as extortion and it became character assassination."

 

Orders for Paula Deen cookbook surge

Advance orders for Paula Deen's next cookbook have surged since the Food Network discontinued her show after she admitted using a racial slur.

Orders for "Paula Deen's New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up" surged on Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) by nearly 1,300% in the last 24 hours.

The cookbook was ranked 115th on Tuesday, compared to a ranking of 1,592nd on Monday

"Paula Deen's New Testament" is not available until October.

Another cookbook, "Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible," jumped 114% to Amazon sales rank 350, from 750 in the prior 24 hours.

Deen's agent did not immediately return a message from CNNMoney about the book sales.

Scripps Networks Interactive's (SNI) Food Network announced June 21 that it would not renew Deen's contract after reports emerged that she admitted, during a court deposition in May, using racial slurs.

"Yes, of course," said Deen, when asked by a lawyer if she had ever used the "N word."

Deen's television contract expires at the end of June, ending her 11-year relationship with the Food Network.

Related: Men's Wearhouse: Why we fired Zimmer

Pork producer and former Deen sponsor Smithfield Foods (SFD, Fortune 500) cut its ties on Monday.

"Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language or behavior of any kind," said Smithfield vice president of investor relations Keira Lombardo, in a statement to CNN. "Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen."

Deen's 14 cookbooks have sold millions of copies. She also sells cookware and decorating supplies via her website and owns seven restaurants, including The Lady & Sons and Uncle Bubba's Oyster House, both in Savannah, Ga.

Brian Warner, managing editor at CelebrityNetWorth.com, estimates Deen's wealth at $10 million.

Related: Controversial T-shirt destroys business

Deen, who uses the Southern greeting "Hi y'all" conspicuously on the air and on her website, apologized via video:

"Your color of your skin, your religion, your sexual preference does not matter to me, but it's what's in the heart and my family and I try to live by that," she said. "I offer my sincere apology to those that I have hurt and I hope that you forgive me because this comes from the deepest part of my heart."

 

Paula Deen's Sons Take to CNN in Her Defense

Paula Deen's sons spoke out on Tuesday in defense of their mother, who's under fire for admitting to having said the N-word.

Deen's sons, Bobby and Jamie Deen, who also have their own Food Network show, Road Tasted, were interviewed on CNN's New Day.

Both men repeatedly said their mother is not a racist and raised them in a loving, inclusive environment.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

Deen's son Bobby said despite his mom admitting during a sworn deposition to using the N-word in the past, that's not representative of her personality or the home in which he and his brother were raised.

"The important thing here is for people to know that that is not her heart," Bobby said. "That was certainly not the home that we were raised in. We were raised in a family of love and of faith and a house where God lived. Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted towards any other person for any reason."

"Frankly, I'm disgusted by the whole thing because it began as extortion and it became character assassination," Bobby added.

STORY: Author Anne Rice Defends Paula Deen Against 'Lynch Mob Culture'

As proof of his mother's inclusive character, Jamie Deen says his parents told him the story of baseball's barrier-breaking Hank Aaron, including buying him a pair of pajamas featuring the slugger.

"That's a lesson that I've carried with me throughout my entire life, to treat everyone with inclusion and by their character and on their own merit," Jamie said. "Under no circumstances should you ever judge anybody for any other reason."

Jamie also added that it was "absurd to think there's an environment of racism" in their business.

The Food Network said Friday that it would not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expired at the end of this month. It's unclear what her sons' futures with the network are.

 

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.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

“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.

 

Author Anne Rice Defends Paula Deen Against 'Lynch Mob Culture'

Author Anne Rice has come to the defense of former Food Network chef Paula Deen following her admission that she has used the "n-word" in the past.

In a Facebook post, Rice -- best known as the author of the Vampire Chronicles books -- questioned whether the criticism lobbied at Deen is justified.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

"What's happening with Paula Dean? [sic] Is it fair? I never heard of her until today, and wow, this looks like a crucifixion," Rice wrote, adding: "I may be wrong but aren't we becoming something of a lynch mob culture? Is this a good example of that?"

A total of 1,808 people have "liked" the post, with commenters split on whether they agree with Rice.

Wrote Melinda Barrett: "For this to come out about something being said years ago is a bit much of a witch hunt."

Replied Rice: "Also it was a private remark to a caterer. It wasn't something she wrote on her FB page or on a billboard."

Commented Anton Brown: "ass a black man.i say leavwe her alone.rappers and comedians use tge qord everyday and no one said or says s--t [sic]."

Replied Rice: "Appreciated. I honestly don't think she meant to hurt anyone. She made the remark privately to an employee who is now suing her. Pretty ugly stuff, law suits."

STORY: Food Network Won't Renew Paula Deen's Contract 

Yet others disagreed with Rice and her supporters.

"If I boasted to a public forum about using racial slurs I would be fired too, and deserve it," wrote Netanii Natalie Jean. "She's been FIRED, not lynched."

Still others were harsher in their comments.

"Anne Rice, really?!! As an African American educator and New Orleanian I am offended that you would assume the Ms. Deen is being crucified!" Tia J. Crowley wrote. "Did you not read, the words she spoke? If not, please do. African Americans fight for equal rights everyday. I live in. state - Louisiana - where if you drive to the Northshore, you can easily find people who think like Deen, herself. You disappoint me."

Wrote Adwoa Amoah: "Crucified? This woman is not Jesus. And did you really use the word 'lynch' to describe a woman being fired for being a racist? How utterly absurd. The Food Network has every right to no longer want to be affiliated with Paula Deen. She is reaping what she's sown. And the word n----r was not used with anything but malice, derision and hate. You are of course all entitled to your opinions but that makes you as racist as this unemployed woman. Disgusting."

STORY: Paula Deen Defends Use of N-Word: I 'Was Born 60 Years Ago' 

Meanwhile, Jeri Milburn quipped: "More shocking than these allegations against Paula is the fact that Anne has never heard of her until today!"

The Deen controversy began Wednesday when a transcript of a videotaped court deposition was unearthed. In the deposition, Dean admitted to using racial slurs in the past. She and her brother Bubba Hiers are being sued by the former manager of their Savannah restaurants, Lady and Sons and Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House. The suit claims Deen and her brother committed multiple acts of violence, discrimination and racism.

In the wake of the revelation, Deen has been dropped by Food Network and lost her endorsement deal with pork company Smithfield, but fans have flocked to her restaurant Lady and Sons and talked about boycotting the channel to show their support of the chef.

She's scheduled to appear on NBC's Today on Wednesday.

View the original article here