Paula Deen Talks Racism Controversy on Today Show
Posted on June 26, 2013
Paula Deen was interviewed by Matt Lauer to discuss the controversy surround her admission of using the n-word in a deposition. Paula teared up during the interview a couple times. Once when she was talking about her 7-year-old grandson and another time when she was talking about support from fans and friends.
She says she is not a racist. Paula says everyone on Earth was created equal. She says there have been some "very, very hurtful lies" told about her. Paula says the only time she used the n-word was a day thirty years ago - the same day she had a gun pointed at her head.
Paula says she hears African Americans using the n-word in her kitchens. She says, "It's very distressing." Paula says, "I think that 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."
Paula says her fans remain loyal to her because they know her. Here are some more highlights from the lengthy Today interview:
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On Whether She Would Have Fire Herself: "Would I have fired me, knowing me, no. I'm very lucky in this aspect, Matt. I'm so fortunate that so many of my partners that know who I am have decided to stand by me. QVC has not dropped me."
On The One Time She Used the n-word: "The day I used that word it was a world ago. It was 30 years ago. I had had a gun put to my head, a shaking gun because the man that had the gun to my head was my customer at the main office."
On How Her Core Group of Fans Feel: "I think that we can never underestimate the power of those voices. Because these people who have met me and know me and love me, they're as angry as the people are that are reading these stories that are lies. These people reading the stories that don't know me. they don't know they're not lies. They have no idea. So they are angry, and on that same coin, the people that know me, they're just as angry. and i have apologized. I would never never -- and I can truthfully say in my life -- I have never with any intention hurt anybody on purpose. and I never would."