Celebrity chef Paula Deen was defended yesterday (Tuesday 25th June) by her son Bobby. Bobby said he was 'disgusted by the entire thing.' Paula Deen's contracts with a number of companies, whom she acts as a spokesperson for, have been cancelled after the chef admitted in court that she had, in the past, used racist language. The chef who held a Friday night slot on the Food Network has been dismissed.

Paula Deen
Paula Deen with guest appearing at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas 2010. 

Bobby Deen spoke to CNN and used examples of his upbringing to show his mother was not prejudiced. His childhood hero was Hank Aarons, a Black baseball player who had to overcome racial prejudice in order to play.With regards to the 'N' word Paula Deen admitted to using, Bobby said "I abhor it coming from any person. . We weren't raised in a home where that word was used". Paula's past remarks have been dragged up as a result of this scandal. In a 2012 New York Times interview she made some unsavoury comments about a black employee and talked about the impact the abolition of slavery had on her family. Apparently Paula's great-grandfather, following the American Civil War in which he lost his son and his "workers", "went out into his barn and shot himself because he couldn't deal with those kind of changes".

Paula Deen
Paula Deen interviewing a guest at a Miami food and wine festival. 

In the same interview Paula said "We're all prejudiced against one thing or another," she added. "I think black people feel the same prejudice that white people feel." The 2012 interview has come back to haunt Paula with a vengeance, especially as Paula has completely missed the point - Just to make a change! The debate over Paula Deen's remarks continues. She is due to appear on today's Today (Wednesday 26th June).

Paula Deen
Paula Deen's Career Is Nosediving At A Rate of Knots