Paula Deen releases video responding to allegations of racism

Update: Food Network announces it will not renew her contract, despite apology

Published June 21, 2013 8:35PM (EDT)

   (YouTube)
(YouTube)

Updated: Friday, 4:38 p.m.

Paula Deen will no longer be a part of the Food Network:

[embedtweet id="348177071262011393"]

Updated: Friday, 4:18 p.m.

Things get stranger as Paula Deen releases another version of her video apology Friday afternoon, explaining that she canceled her morning interview with Matt Lauer because she was "physically not able" to do it.

"The pain has been tremendous that I've caused to myself and others," she says before asking that people understand that "my family and I are not the kind of people that the press is wanting to say we are. I've spent the best of 24 years to help myself and others. The color of your skin, your religion, your sexual preference does not matter to me," she said.

"I will continue to work and continue to do good things for good people," she concludes.

Paula Deen released -- then promptly made private -- then rereleased a video addressing racist comments she reportedly made during a deposition in May.

In the video statement, Deen says she wants to apologize for "the wrong that I've done."

"I've made plenty of mistakes along the way but... I beg for your forgiveness," she said.



By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

MORE FROM Prachi Gupta


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