Paula Deen faces Matt Lauer

US TV chef Paula Deen, who was embroiled in a racism scandal after using “the N Word” in a court deposition, finally faced Today show host Matt Lauer after cancelling an interview last week.

The deposition pertained to a court case from a disgruntled employee from one of her restaurants.

The former Food Network star, who has been dropped by retail giant Walmart, sought to apologise for her comments in a tearful mea culpa.

“I am here today because I want people to know who I am. People that have worked beside me, have walked beside me, know what kind of person I am. I am so distressed that people I have never heard of are all of a sudden experts on who I am,” she said.

When Lauer asked her, “Is Paula Deen a racist?” she replied, “No. No, as a child, I was raised in a home that my father tolerated bad grades. He would tolerate me maybe breaking a curfew, but he told me, girl, if I ever find out that you have behaved in a way that you think you’re better than others, your butt is going to be mine.”

But reaction on social media outlets quickly turned into an attack on interviewer Matt Lauer, claiming that when she attempted to apologise, he insisted on focusing on the “business” side of the ordeal.

The Today Facebook pages erupted in comments immediately following Deen’s appearance, with the majority of them focused on Lauer’s treatment of Deen.

Caesar’s Palace has announced it will no longer work with Deen and will close all four of Deen’s restaurants on its properties. Deen was also recently dropped by the Food Network and major sponsor Smithfield Foods.

Source: LA Times