Paula Deen, who has come under fire this week for admitting incourt documents that she previously used the N-word, has issued a formal video apology.
In a lawsuit filed against her by a former employee of Deen's restaurant, Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, Deen was asked if she had ever used the N-word.
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"Yes, of course," she responded. "It's been a very long time."
The resulting media firestorm caused Paula Deen Enterprises to release a statement saying that Deen "was born 60 years ago, when America's South had schools that were segregated, different bathrooms, different restaurants and Americans rode in different parts of the bus" and that she "does not find acceptable the use of this term under any circumstance by anyone nor condone any form of racism or discrimination."
On Friday, she released a more personal appeal for forgiveness in a somber video:
I want to apologize to everyone for the wrong that I've done. I want to learn and grow from this. Inappropriate and hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners, I beg for your forgiveness. Please forgive me for the mistakes that I have made.
The Food Network, home of several shows hosted by Deen, has released a statement saying it will "continue to monitor the situation."
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UPDATE: The Food Network has declined to renew Deen's contract, which expires in nine days, according to multiple reports.
Deen also released a second, longer video Friday afternoon after her first taped apology disappeared from the web. In it, she said she skipped a scheduled Today appearance because she had not yet composed herself enough to discuss her controversial remarks, and offered "an apology to those I have hurt."
"I want people to understand that my family and I are not the kind of people that the press is wanting to say we are," she said. "I've spent the best of 24 years to help myself and others."
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, RawStory, and Business Insider.
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