Photo: Getty Images
Racist allegations against celebrity chef Paula Deen have resurfaced.
In a 2013 interview with the New York Times that recently resurfaced on TikTok, Dora Charles, who served as the main cook at Deen’s The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, said the chef used her recipes for 20 years before she ditched her for fame.
Before Deen became a television personality at Food Network, Charles claimed she told her: "Stick with me, one day, if I get rich, you get rich."
Deen allegedly never fulfilled her promise to Charles after decades of working together. When asked if she believed Deen was racist based on her experiences with the celebrity chef, Charles told the Times: “I’ve heard her use the N-word.”
In 2013, Deen was also sued by Lisa Jackson, a former restaurant manager at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House, which the TV personality previously owned, for racial and sexual discrimination.
The case was later thrown out but transcripts from Deen's court deposition revealed she admitted to using racial slurs.
Food Network declined to renew Deen's contract and pulled her programs from the air. Deen also lost endorsement deals and her products were pulled from retailers.
Deen later issued a public apology on YouTube for the “hurtful language” she previously used. The celebrity chef emerged back on TV with appearances on Dancing with the Stars in 2015 and MasterChef: Legends in 2021.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.