Clarification: This Spin Cycle column was printed before Caesars Entertainment released a statement June 26 announcing it will not renew a business relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises. Caesars Entertainment will rebrand the Paula Deen-themed restaurants at four properties, including Harrah’s Tunica.
It seems Paula Deen is eating crow.
Deep fried, of course, like all the other down-home doyenne’s recipes, including Stuffing on a Stick, Butter Balls and even a breaded, peanut-oil-cooked lasagna.
She’s been accused of being a bad apple in a lawsuit by a former employee who, among other things, claimed Deen used a word beginning with “N.” And it’s not nutmeg, noodles or nougat. While Deen denied using the word in front of this employee, she did admit in a deposition to using the word in the past.
Two awkward Internet video apologies and a missed Today show appearance later, Deen was dropped by the Food Network like a hot potato, or at least The Lady’s Warm Potato Salad made with mayonnaise and sour cream. And the network did it faster than one can say “Chocolate Cheese Fudge made with Velveeta” in a succinct, one-sentence statement: “Food Network will not renew Paula Deen’s contract when it expires at the end of this month.”
Now, ours at Spin Cycle is not to declare Deen a racist based on allegations in court documents.
Ours is to wonder what’s going to happen to the Paula Deen Buffet at Harrah’s Tunica in nearby Robinsonville, Miss. - home of the most heavenly hoecakes and glorious Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.
Hey, we’ve got our priorities. And with us, it’s provisions … and then principles.
Patrick Collins, our contact at Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino, sent us a statement issued by Caesar’s Entertainment, which owns Harrah’s Tunica and other casinos that feature Deen’s restaurants (including Horseshoe Southern Indiana Casino, Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina and Harrah’s Joliet in Illinois).
“Paula Deen has acknowledged using a racial slur in the past. As a company with a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are deeply disturbed by what we are reading in the press and strongly object to any use of racial epithets. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
Collins further confirmed by Tuesday’s press time: “The restaurant is still open as of now.”
And for now Deen is still pictured smiling on the website harrahstunica.com, where we imagine they might want to edit at least part of the description: “Experience an allnew sort of all-you-can-eat at Harrah’s Tunica and the oneof-a-kind Paula Deen Buffet. You’ve had her over to your place via the Food Network.” Yeah, well, not anymore.
For now, the casinos are still gambling on Deen.
Speaking of gambling on Deen, we wonder whether Harrah’s Tunica will keep the Deen-themed slot machines where the reels include her likeness, indulgent foods and famous sayings.
Sayings like “Hey, y’all!” - not the ones alleged in the lawsuit.
Sizzle up an e-mail: [email protected] Spin Cycle is a weekly smirk at pop culture and a weekly segment on Little Rock’s KURB-FM, B98.5 at 7 a.m.Thursdays. Listen live and hear podcasts at b98.com.
Style, Pages 45 on 06/30/2013