Paula Deen and Caesars Entertainment are no longer doing business.
The company announced today (June 26) that it will not pursue a business relationship with the embattled chef going forward. Caesars currently operates four Paula Deen restaurants at Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Harrah’s Tunica, Harrah’s Joliet, and Harrah’s Cherokee.
Despite her attempts to correct the situation, Caesars Entertainment will close and re-brand the Paul Deen restaurants in the near future.
Caesars Entertainment’s Jan Jones Blackhurst said in a statement:
While we appreciate Paula’s sincere apologies for statements she made in her past that she recently disclosed during a deposition given in response to a lawsuit, after thoughtful consideration of their impact, we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time.
The decision to close the restaurants is the latest blow against Deen following her recent deposition. The Food Network and pork producer Smithfield have reportedly parted ways with the chef as well.
The Inquisitr previously reported that Paula Deen attempted to do a little damage control on the Tuesday edition of the Today show. When Matt Lauer asked if she was a racist, the chef claimed she was not.
“I believe that … every one of God’s creatures was created equal. I believe that everyone should be treated equal, that’s the way I was raised and that’s the way I live my life,” Deen explained.
Despite the backlash, some of Deen’s ventures are thriving in the wake of the scandal. Her restaurant The Lady and Sons in Savannah, Georgia recently enjoyed a spike in business. People reportedly lined up outside of the joint just to get a seat at the restaurant.
While companies such as QVC, Walmart, JC Penney, and Random House have pulled their support of Deen, Royal Caribbean is adding more departures for the Paula Deen cruise the company offers.
“Due to so many requests from Paula’s fans in the past we are actually planning two cruises for 2014 and look forward to both. It’s always an amazing time with Paula, her family and fans. If she goes — we go,” a representative said in a recent statement.
Are you still a fan of Paula Deen? What do you think about the chef getting dropped by Caesars Entertainment?