Lots of people still love them some Paula Deen recipes.
Ballantine Books does not seem to care, however.
The chef’s rough month just got worse with the loss of a lucrative publishing deal, despite the fact that her latest cookbook has soared to #1 on Amazon.
Ballantine announced it would not publish her upcoming effort, announcing that it also made the “difficult decision to cancel” her current best-seller.
The division of Random House also announced it is nixing a five-book deal it signed with Deen last year, believed to be worth millions of dollars.
The decision came after companies including Sears, J.C. Penney, Walmart, Target and Kmart announced they would stop selling her products, including books.
“When Walmart, Target and J.C. Penney all announced they are discontinuing their Paula Deen business, including books, it is awfully tough,” said a source.
“This was purely a business decision.”
Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up has actually experienced a boost in sales since she was fired by Food Network.
Deen’s fall from grace began when a transcript of a lawsuit deposition was released and showed that she admitted to using racial slurs in the last.
The admission created a firestorm and although Deen issued multiple video apologies, she has watched her lucrative business deals fall like dominos.
On Wednesday, she made a tearful and what seemed to be sincerely apologetic appearance on the Today show, but even that did not stop the bleeding.
Deen is absolutely furious with Lisa Jackson, the woman suing her for discrimination, and alleged in court papers that the chef made racist remarks.
While Paula admitted using epithets in the past, she denies Jackson’s allegations and blames what she sees as a bogus lawsuit for her downfall.
Talk to THG: Would you fire Paula Deen?