Paula Deen is falling apart.
Her tearful appearance on the "Today" show Wednesday morning clearly surprised Matt Lauer, who made multiple attempts to get the interview back on track as Deen tried to save her reputation by saying she wasn't racist.
Fans of hers were outraged when the Food Network announced its decision to drop Deen from the network, but it shouldn't be that much of a surprise if you look at her history. Deen has always been somewhat of a loose cannon, and this isn't the first controversy of hers that has threatened the Food Network's image.
The public outcry that followed the release of Deen's court deposition might just have been the straw that broke the camel's back for the Food Network and other partners who have recently severed ties with Deen.
As Deen said during her "Today" interview, she is facing a lot of scrutiny from people who don't know her personally. But regardless of her character, the outspoken celebrity chef has never been one to avoid controversy.
She wanted a profane outtake video shown before her appearances on a live cooking tour.
In 2012, a profane blooper reel emerged that shows Deen cursing, performing a sex act on an eclair, and saying a dish smells like "stinky coochie."
Deen reportedly wanted the video screened before her appearances at live cooking events, but the man running the tour refused. He told the New York Post that Celebrity Chef Tours "found it to be unacceptable because it’s certainly not family content."
She later ditched the tour and sued the man running it.
Deen said the check from Celebrity Chef Tours bounced, so she backed out of it and sued Gary Ravet, the president of the company for $1.25 million, according to the New York Post. He then countersued for $40 million, citing a breach of contract from Deen.
The suit settled out of court, and the terms of the deal are confidential (although Ravet reportedly said Deen "paid a lot of money").
Her erratic appearance on the "Today" show had many speculating she might have been drunk on-air.
The hosts drank mojitos on the February segment, but Deen insisted that hers didn't contain alcohol and her rep denied the drinking allegations to TMZ. She might not have been drunk, but she certainly was outrageous.
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