Published: October 19, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. ET
**Paula Deen’s Attempt at Redemption Backfires as Fans and Hollywood Turn Away**
Disgraced celebrity chef Paula Deen’s reputation was severely damaged in her infamous racism scandal. RadarOnline.com reveals that her efforts to repair her tarnished image are backfiring, as fans turn on her and Hollywood stars continue to shun her like a half-baked pie.
Before the release of the new documentary *Canceled: The Paula Deen Story*, the 78-year-old cook insisted it would tell the “truth” about the controversy that cost her the long-running Food Network show and lucrative deals with major retailers such as Target, Walmart, QVC, Sears, and JCPenney.
**Paula’s Road to Redemption**
“I’m looking for the truth. The truth, if you watch the film, you will find it out,” Deen stated confidently.
An insider revealed, “She’s trying to redeem herself and feels enough time has passed that people need to forgive her. A part of her still believes she did nothing wrong and that people got the wrong story about her, but she’s finding the online criticism hard to take. She’s reaching out and making efforts, but the fact remains she’s tarnished.”
The kitchen queen first landed in hot water in 2012 when Lisa Jackson, a former manager at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House, sued Paula and her brother Bubba Hiers for sexual harassment and for allegedly making offensive comments about Black people.
In a court deposition, Paula was asked if she had ever used a racial epithet. She responded, “Yes, of course,” adding, “It’s been a very long time.”
**The Settled Lawsuit and Fallout**
An insider noted, “The damage was done. Paula became persona non grata.”
She recently confessed, “It ate at my gut every day. I would have been fine had the whole story been told – had the real story been told.” She accused Jackson of being “a known liar,” and said, “They took her word and ran with it, and no one ever investigated any further. I was not going to be happy until the world saw the truth.”
The lawsuit was settled in 2013. Since then, Paula Deen has recouped many of her financial losses and boasts a net worth of $12 million.
**Paula’s Projects After the Scandal**
Although she closed her signature restaurant, The Lady & Sons, in Savannah, Georgia, earlier this year, Paula still operates other profitable restaurants, makes TV appearances, hosts cooking shows, sells cookbooks, and markets Paula Deen merchandise.
“It’s also well known that Paula lives a lavish lifestyle and splurges on herself,” explained the insider. “No one is buying the pity party act when she lives like a queen. She’s not strapped for cash, and nobody seems to be accepting her apologies, even now.”
https://radaronline.com/p/paula-deen-redemption-collapses-racism-scandal-fallout-documentary/
