Paula Deen's Statement on Her Food Network Termination

After an announcement yesterday that the Food Network will not be renewing her contract at the end of the month, Paula Deen has released a (brief) statement to the Today show:

I would like to thank The Food Network for 11 great years. Because of the gift The Food Network gave me, I have had the pleasure of being allowed into so many homes across the country and meeting people who have shared with me the most touching and personal stories.

Deen is currently under fire for some things she said during a deposition, including admitted to having used the N-word in the past and considering an all-black staff, Civil War-era theme for her brother's wedding. TMZ has a source that says Deen was not fired for the comments themselves but for the PR nightmare that followed their release. Deen no-showed for a Today appearance yesterday morning and then followed it up with a string of really weird apology videos. Yesterday, the Food Network told Eater: "Food Network will not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires at the end of this month."

· Food Network 'Will Not Renew Paula Deen's Contract' [Today]
· All PaulaDeenGate Coverage on Eater [-E-]