(Tunica County, MS) There is more bad financial news for Paula Deen.
Walmart announced it’s ending its business relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises after Deen’s admission recently to using racial slurs in the past.
The Food Network was the first major company to say it would not re-new her contract and this morning the other shoe dropped at one of Tunica’s popular casino’s.
In 2008, Paul Deen opened the Paula Deen Buffet at Harrah’s Tunica casino.
Deen told News Channel 3 then how excited she was by the partnership,
“They have the money and the wherefore and the know how to partner up with me.”
Five years later, Paula Deen’s cooking empire is falling faster than a bad souffle.
Deen admitted using racial slurs during a deposition in a lawsuit over allegations of sexual and racial harassment. As a result, Deen’s reputation and wallet are taking a big hit.
“I want to apologize to everybody for the wrong that I’ve done,” she has said.
Wednesday morning came news the Harrah’s buffet that bares her name will soon be re-branded.
A statement issued by Harrah’s parent company, Caesar’s Entertainment, says Caesar’s and Paula Deen Enterprises reached a mutual agreement:
“While we appreciate Paula’s sincere apologies for statements she made in her past…
…after thoughtful consideration of their impact, we have decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time.”
As of 10:45 Wednesday morning, the Paula Deen buffet was still named just that and scheduled to open at 11 a.m.
No one at Harrah’s casino would comment, but some of its customers would.
Billy Lawrence, from Nesbit, Mississippi, says people should let her “go about her business”,
“Everybody makes mistakes and she may have made a mistake. If she did, she admitted it and she apologized.”
Sonja from Huntsville, Ala., has eaten at Paula Deen’s before and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere,
“I hate to see her go. I think it’s very sad that this has turned into what it has. I think she’ll be missed.”
We are told there is no exact timetable for when the Paula Deen buffet will be renamed, or what will happen to the Paula Deen restaurants at four other Caesar’s properties.