Former Food Network star Paul Deen is back on television and she hasn’t exactly been welcomed with open arms. The famed butter lover now hosts family-friendly “Positively Paula” on RFD-TV and in syndication. It marks her first new cooking show since Food Network gave her the boot in 2013 for making racist remarks about Black people.
“I’m so excited to invite my friends from around the country into my home kitchen each week,” Deen told People magazine of her new venture. The program debuted in select markets back in 2016, Eater reported, but it premiered on the RFD-TV Tuesday, Jan. 2. The network touts itself as “Rural America’s Most Important Network.”
But while she’s excited to have viewers watch her cooking in her Savannah, Ga. home and trying new dishes, lots of others don’t feel the same.
Many remember Deen’s damning deposition stemming from a lawsuit over her and brother Bubba Hiers’ now-shuttered restaurant, “Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House.” While speaking to an attorney in 2013, Deen admitted to using the n-word to describe Black people. She also confessed to trying to have Black people dress as slaves for a Civil War-themed wedding. Additionally, Deen revealed she’d made racist jokes in the past.
“Paula Deen has been canceled for her use of the n-word,” tweeted one responder. “Thanks for trying though!”
Another said, “Not watching…..still haven’t forgotten about her racist antics! ✊🏽”
“Go away, Paula,” a different person tweeted.
Still, some on Facebook applauded Deen’s return.
“That’s wonderful! America is the land of second chances,” one person wrote in part.
Added another, “If we can have a racist as a president….why not? At least she is actually bringing something good to the table.”
However, more chimed in with negative feelings.
