After Paula Deen admitted to using a racial slur in the past last week, the Food Network decided to drop Deen from its lineup. Now, the racial slur scandal is costing her more endorsement deals. Smithfield, a pork company that sold a ham with her name and face on it, announced it will be ending its partnership with Deen. The company made a statement, saying it “condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen.”
Deen also has ties with other companies, including home shopping channel QVC, book publisher Random House Inc., and diabetes drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk. QVC announced that it is “reviewing [their] business relationship with Ms. Deen.” The channel currently sells Paula Deen kitchenware on its website and stated that it “has no immediate plans to have her appear on QVC.”
Novo Nordisk announced that it does not plan to drop Deen as its spokesperson for the diabetes drug, Victoza.
In addition, Deen has ties with Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos. Some of the company’s casinos have the restaurant, Paula Deen’s Kitchen. Harrah’s is currently monitoring the situation, stating that they are “deeply disturbed by what we are reading in the press and strongly object to any use of racial epithets.”
Even though sponsors are dropping Deen, there are still fans showing their support for her on social media. Many Facebook groups called “Support Paula Deen” have popped up and many have posted on the Food Network’s page to say they are boycotting the channel due to the news that they are dropping Deen.
