Paula Deen sat down with Matt Lauer this morning on TODAY, and try as he might … he wasn’t able to steer the conversation to the financial impact her N-word admission has had on her cooking empire and her brand.
Instead, the former Food Network celebrity chef admitted she is “crushed” because “people who don’t know me are judging based on lies.”
She said while sobbing, “Every creature on this earth is created equal. That’s the way I was raised and that’s the way I live my life. I have never intentionally hurt another person. I’m heartbroken.”
Her only negative comment during the segment was a not-so-subtle reference to her former employee, Lisa Jackson: “There is someone evil out there who stole what I have because they wanted it.”
Deen took the high road when Lauer tried to get her to diss her former employer the Food Network. He mentioned that her supporters are calling for a ban of the cooking network. She responded emphatically, “I would not want that.”
Speaking to the haters, Paula challenged, “If there is anyone out there who has never committed a sin, please pick up that boulder and throw it at my head and kill me.”
According to Lauer, his decidedly overwrought guest had a hard time composing herself after the segment finished.
Last year Oprah and her pal Gayle King visited Paula at her Southern mansion. So far they have remained silent on the controversy. We’re guessing Deen would love to have these powerful women step up on her behalf.
Check out a video clip from this morning below:
Photos: Video Screen Grabs