Paula Deen racism scandal explained ahead of new documentary
Paula Deen, US celebrity chef, former Food Network star, entrepreneur and cookbook author is set to be the subject of a new documentary debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2025.
The documentary, titled Canceled: The Paula Deen Story will cover the former TV star’s fall from grace following a lawsuit in 2013 during which she admitted to using racial slurs and tolerated racist jokes in the workplace.
Deen's June 2013 racism scandal was brought about by a lawsuit brought against the cook and her brother, Bubba Hiers, by a former manager of their shared restaurant, Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House.
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Lisa Jackson, the complainant, alleged sexual harassment and a racist work environment characterised by regular slurs aimed at Black Americans, with Deen admitting she had 'of course' used the 'N-word' on occasion in a subsequent deposition.
The racial discrimination element was thrown out by the court on the basis that Jackson, who is white, didn't have the grounds to sue on the basis of her colleagues' treatment.
Her claims of sexual harassment, however, were upheld, and rumours swirled over an out-of-court settlement.
Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House subsequently closed in 2014.
In the years since, Deen has maintained a portfolio of restaurants with a focus on her Southern cooking specialism, along with producing and promoting several cookbooks. Despite so many of her contracts being terminated after her admissions, her books sold very well.
Former US President Jimmy Carter even stepped in to remark: "I think she has been punished, perhaps overly severely, for her honesty in admitting it and for the use of the word in the distant past. She's apologized profusely."
Getting ahead of the documentary’s launch, Deen made an appearance on Fox & Friends with host Steve Doocy.
Whilst putting together some ice cream French toast, Deen explained how she has been suffering with self-diagnosed mental health issues that allegedly pre-date the scandal.
"My children and I were a little leery at first," she said in the 20 August Fox & Friends appearance.
"But then we decided - let me tell you something, Steve. I thought I was going to die of a broken heart."
She added: "And I said I couldn't let myself fall back into that terrible (agoraphobia). But I had, like, 5 and a half, 6 million people come in on my Facebook and put their arms around me. And without y’all, I would not have survived."
Following her admission of participating in and tolerating racist behaviour, her Food Network contracts were cancelled.
While her life on TV took a tremendous blow, off-screen she has continued to flourish as a restaurateur, cookbook author and social media personality with over 5 millions followers across Facebook and Instagram.
In terms of her self-diagnosed agoraphobia, it refers to an anxiety disorder which ‘involves fearing and avoiding places or situations that might cause panic and feelings of being trapped’, per Mayo Clinic.
Deen claims to have been struggling with the condition for more than 20 years following her self-diagnosis whilst watching The Phil Donahue Show. As to why she hasn’t sought medical advice for the condition, or an official diagnosis, in those 20 years, we can only guess.
Despite many of her restaurants continuing to operate in the years since, on 1 August 2025 Deen announced the abrupt closure of her flagship The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Georgia along with the nearby The Chicken Box.
"Hey, y'all, my sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box," Deen said in a statement posted to social media.
She continued: "Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years."
Canceled: The Paula Deen Story is from documentary filmmaker Billy Corben, who also made Cocaine Cowboys and God Forbid.
Topics: Celebrity, TV and Film, Restaurants and bars
Rachael Davis