Oprah Winfrey has finally broken her silence about Paula Deen, but she has chosen her words carefully in speaking of the woman who lost a great deal because of the N-word.
Oprah is currently hitting the talk show circuit to promote her upcoming film ‘The Butler,’ and it appears she was prepared for the inevitable questions regarding the former Food Network celebrity chef.
She told ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ “In the very first days I tried to reach her and then I decided to stay out of it as I saw it blowing up. In time she will be fine. For me, it all just felt kind of sad.”
“I think Paula Deen was sort of used as a symbol, but I think lots of people use the N-word inappropriately all the time.”
Winfrey hopes to have the Southern cook back on OWN for an interview but she expects it won’t happen until Deen is able to get past a “defensive conversation” and can really focus on the reality of the situation.
O admits, “I just really want to know what happened.”
On ‘Extra,’ she gave a decidedly less thoughtfulf response when asked about Deen. “She is not the first white lady to use the N-world. Good lord!”
She added, “Oh my god! I don’t have anything to do with Paula Deen.”
Oprah and her best pal Gayle King bonded with the Southern chef in early 2012 when they traveled to her home in Savannah to film an episode for ‘Oprah’s Next Chapter.’
Photos: Facebook-Oprah, Video Screen Grab