Paula Deen, a Georgia, US-based celebrity chef who was formerly a Food Network star, is the subject of a documentary that has premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
Canceled: The Paula Deen Story, covers a racism scandal that upended Deen’s TV career and triggered significant reputational damage.
Following 2013 lawsuit filed against Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, brought by a former manager at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House, Deen’s Food Network contracts were cancelled.
Lisa Jackson, the complainant, alleged sexual harassment whilst working at Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House, as well as a racist work environment where slurs aimed at Black Americans were commonplace.
While the court threw out the racism allegations on the basis that Jackson, who is white, didn’t have the grounds to sue over her Black colleagues’ treatment, Deen later admitted to using slurs and presiding over a work environment where racism went unchecked.
In that subsequent deposition, Deen admitted that she had ‘of course’ used the ‘N-word’ on occasion.
The years since have seen Deen continue to write and publish cookery books, as well as owning a fleet of restaurants.
However, her flagship restaurant, The Lady & Sons, closed abruptly on 31 July 2025 alongside The Chicken Box situated nearby.
Speaking to People, Deen has spoken about the new documentary covering her career’s tailspin. “I'm looking for the truth," said Deen, 78. “The truth, if you watch the film, you will find it out.”
Canceled: The Paula Deen Story debuted on 6 September at the Festival. Directed by Billy Corben, it covers Deen’s early years in catering, her 11-year tenure on Food Network, the lawsuit and racism allegations, and the years that followed.
While the lawsuit brought against Deen tarred her reputation, and the subsequent admission to using racist language brought an end to myriad lucrative contracts, Jackson said in a post-settlement statement: "The Paula Deen I have known for more than eight years is a woman of compassion and kindness and will never tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind toward anyone.”
Deen said in the documentary that her admission of using racist language was in reference to an incident in 1987 where she was held at gunpoint at a bank where she worked.
In the documentary, Deen maintains that when she admitted to having used the racial slur, she was referring to the aftermath of a 1987 incident, when she was held at gunpoint while working at a bank.
Featured Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole / Staff/Getty ImagesTopics: Celebrity, Cooking, TV and Film, Restaurants and bars, News
Rachael Davis