After a Disastrous Appearance on Today, Wal-Mart and Caesars Dump Paula Deen

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The Paula Deen empire has officially been reduced to rubble as both Caesars Entertainment and Wal-Mart have ended their relationships with the N-word loving chef.

Jan Jones Blackhurst, Caesars Entertainment executive VP of communications and government affairs, said, “While we appreciate Paula’s sincere apologies for statements she made in her past that she recently disclosed during a deposition given in response to a lawsuit, after thoughtful consideration of their impact, we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time.”

Wal-Mart didn’t bother to try to spare Deen’s feelings, “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”

What seems to have caused Wal-Mart and Caesars to dump Deen was her disastrous appearance on NBC’s Today.

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During the Today interview, Deen again spent more time defending herself, and claiming that people were lying about her than she did actually apologizing. She claimed that people were lying about her, and generally demonstrated a complete inability to handle the situation that she put herself in.

Deen praised the companies that were standing by her, which reminded Wal-Mart and Caesars that Deen is a ticking time bomb that they shouldn’t be anywhere near. In short order, Caesar’s and Wal-Mart dumped Deen.

Paula Deen’s biggest problem is that there is an unbelievable level of arrogance involved her approach to this crisis. She tried to change her story with the claim that she only used the N-word once. She keeps claiming that she isn’t a racist, all the while seemingly having no clue that her behavior is confirming her racial attitudes.

Deen’s empire is pretty much toast. Her brand was build on a folksy friendliness that has completely evaporated. Paula Deen seems to be saying what the PR firm in charge of her damage control is telling her will get her out of trouble. The problem is that Deen’s insincerity shines through. She doesn’t realize that the racist isn’t the victim, and that by trying to play the victim, she is only digging herself in deeper.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association