14 DAY TRIAL // Paula Deen is now involved in a huge media scandal, one that, if not handled properly, could even end up costing her a big chunk of her business. After word got out that she admitted in court to using the N-word in reference to one of her ex-employees, Deen has issued two separate apologies.
You can see them both below, embedded at the end of this article.
In the first, less scripted one, a visibly emotional Paula Deen “begs for forgiveness” and insists that she, like any other person out there, is prone to mistakes as well.
She doesn’t say directly what she’s apologizing for but she’s making sure she begs for forgiveness from her family, from her staff and, last but not least, from her fans.
Shortly after she posted the first video apology to her YouTube channel, it was pulled (it’s now back up, by the way) and she offered a second one.
This is clearly a more rehearsed speech. Deen also addresses her decision to cancel a scheduled appearance on The Today Show, and pleads with Matt Lauer for understanding: she was physically unable to do the interview, she says.
“The pain has been tremendous that I have caused to myself and to others. So I’m taking this opportunity, now that I've pulled myself together and am able to speak, to offer an apology to all those that I have hurt,” she says.
“I want people to understand that my family and I are not the kind of people that the press say that we are. I've spent the best of 24 years to help myself and others. Your color of skin, your religion, your preference does not matter to me,” Deen continues.
“I am here to say that i am so sorry. I was wrong, yes. I've worked hard and I've made some mistakes. But that is no excuse,” she says.
