Sears, Penney Drop Paula Deen, The Bleeding Continues

Paula Deen is being dropped like a hot potato. After a week of losing sponsors, the bleeding for the former top cooking star continues with Sears and JC Penney announcing the they are cutting ties with Deen.

This follows the statement by Walgreens on Friday, that they were also dropping her after it was revealed that the celebrity chef had used racially insensitive words in the past.

Deen has publicly apologized in a teary interview on the Today Show on NBC, but that has not stopped the continuing loss of business partners.

As reported by The Inquisitr on Friday, the publisher of her top selling cookbook was also ending their relationship.

The upcoming cookbook, Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up was at the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s best-seller’s list even though it wasn’t due to be released until October 15.

Ballantine Books stated on Friday it would not release the book, which was the first of a five-book deal announced early last year.

Sears Holding Corp. statement indicated that it will phase out all products with the Paula Deen brand after “careful consideration of all available information.”

“We will continue to evaluate the situation.” they added.

J.C. Penney, in an email statement to the Associated Press, announced that it would stop selling all Paula Deen branded products.

On Friday, Walgreens said that it would be phasing out Paula Deen-branded products, which include tortilla chips and a selection of soups.

QVC seemed to be less definite in their statement saying that they would take a “pause” from the chef.

“We all think it’s important, at this moment, for Paula, to concentrate on responding to the allegations against her and on her path forward,” said Mike George, QVC’s president and CEO in a letter posted on the company’s website.

However, the home shopping network left the door open for a possible future return for Paula Deen.

And the bleeding continues. Will next week see the situation stabilizing for Paula Deen?

[Image via kai hecker / Shutterstock.com]