Home Pastors Articles for Pastors Your View: Should Paula Deen Get Her Job Back at Food Network?

Your View: Should Paula Deen Get Her Job Back at Food Network?

Paula Deen’s cooking empire, built on her home-cooked Southern style, started to topple after she was let go from Food Network due to racial comments she said nearly 20 years ago.

Here’s the breakdon: According to the court, Deen was engaged in a discrimination lawsuit last year by a former employee who says she was sexually harassed and that the environment in the restaurant, owned by Deen and her son, was filled with innuendo and racial slurs. During the deposition, Deen admitted to using the “N” word and racial jokes in the past. This confession prompted the Food Network to remove her shows and cancel her contract. 

Earlier this morning, Deen appeared as a guest on the Today show with Matt Laurer to share her side of the story. In the tearful interview, Deen apologized for the comments and said she was not a racist. She also said, “If there is anyone out there who has never said something they wish they could take back, if you’re out there, take that stone and throw it so hard at my head that it kills me, please. I want to meet you.” 

Discussion:

Do you think Paula should get her job back? Did the Food Network overreact or respond as they should?

If this same scenario came out in the church—racial comments from a pastor’s past made public—should that pastor lose his/her job?