14 DAY TRIAL // Paula Deen is reportedly besides herself after she’s been called racist for admitting to referring to one of her ex-employees with the N-word. Matt Lauer tells People that she’s so upset that she even pulled out of an appearance for The Today Show scheduled for today.
“Tells” might not be the most appropriate word, because it feels like he’s calling her out for canceling the appearance without as much as an explanation.
“We spoke several times with her people yesterday and then I spoke with Paula yesterday afternoon. We arranged an interview this morning. We agreed there would be no restrictions to that interview only that it would be an open and candid exchange,” Lauer says.
Hours before the interview, Deen’s people started dropping hints about how it might not take place. Paula herself did not bother to call Lauer to inform him of the change, he says.
“We started to hear from her people that she is exhausted. She has not called us at all. Her publicity person and I spoke a little while ago. Simply said they believe she is in the hotel but she has not confirmed anything other than she is not here,” Matt explains.