Deen parts with agent after racial slur fallout

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By RUSS BYNUM

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Paula Deen announced Thursday that she has cut business ties with the agent who helped make her a Food Network star and launch a media and merchandising empire that has largely crumbled in the wake of her admission that she used racial slurs in the past.

Deen had worked with New York agent Barry Weiner for more than a decade. She has said he was instrumental in getting her show "Paula's Home Cooking" on the Food Network in 2002. She gave no reason for her parting with Weiner in a prepared statement.

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

Deen's breakup with one of her key partners comes after a turbulent two weeks that have left the celebrity chef's network of business deals in shambles. It all started within days of the public disclosure of a legal deposition in which Deen admitted under oath to having used the N-word.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130704/DA7AURT01.html

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In this Dec. 30, 2010 file photo, Paula Deen speaks in Pasadena, Calif. Sears Holdings Corp. announced Friday, June 28, 2013, that it is cutting ties with Southern celebrity chef Deen, adding to the list of companies severing their relationship following revelations that Deen used racial slurs in the past. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

[Aristus]

1. Let me guess:

"The hebe made me say them words 'n' stuff. It's all his fault!"

[tblue37]

3. It is quite possible that it was the agent who made the decision to break ties. nt

[Aristus]

4. I have no doubt.

I'm just surmising that Paula Deen is going to try to pass the buck...

[MrsBrady]

7. and the thing is...

after the press dies down and it's "forgotten"...
she'll still have some type of career.

It may not be like it was before...but somebody will be willing to pick up where he left off...
her lawyers might be willing to ask as agents right now.

she'll be ok. I'm not worried for her.

[christx30]

8. Yeah. She said the n word

30 years ago. She should never never work again. She should be homeless and destituteonce you say that word ever, there should be no coming back. Ever.

[Ian David]

9. Here's a tin woodman to go with your strawman...

Paula Deen's racism goes far deeper than using the N word...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023065925

[xfundy]

13. You must like being ignant.

Does it feel good, somehow?

[NOLALady]

14. It's not about the n word.

But you know that.

[durablend]

18. And how about those rapper CDs!

And Alec Baldwin, oh me oh my!

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. This is about a LOT more than her using a slur "years ago", as some people think.

This is about her using teh N word very recently, about her making other racist comments in a casual fashion, about her not putting a stop to her brother's sexist, boorish behavior towards staff when she was told of the problem.
That depositon has the entire story in it, and since it hit online, her sponsors have fled.

[Skittles]

6. that deposition is literally jaw-dropping

you'd think this gal was in a time warp

[Scootaloo]

11. But it's easier for oblivious DU'ers to pretend it's all about something from 30 years ago

That way they can still pat themselves on the head and go "But racism is over! Silly black people, being so oversensitive!"

You know. Like they do when people point out the outrage over Michelle Obama being "uppity," or that whole Trayvon Martin stuff.

[northoftheborder]

5. Is it possible that Paula Deen is a Democrat?

[Ian David]

10. She and Limbaugh promote each other's books. So, no.

I was trying to check Newsmeat.com, but their server is temporarily unavailable.

[Jamastiene]

16. All that I could find was that she campaigned for Obama in 2008.

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/celebrities-political-affiliations-20122210/25628

Other than that, I could not find any political donations listed for her.

[Ash_F]

12. I like how the media treats her with kid gloves

She committed sustained abuse through sexual harassment and racial discrimination against her staff for years and somehow all the articles are about how "She used the N-word once in the past".

[secondwind]

15. Let's not forget the Sambo Burgers, or the black employees who had to enter through the rear of

the restaurant, or that they had to use the bathroom "in the back"....

[Jamastiene]

17. In reality, I wonder if she "parted" with her agent or if her agent

dropped her. She sure turned out to be a big disappointment.