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Report: Paula Deen admits using N-word, telling racist jokes

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Looks like Paula Deen has cooked up another mess for herself.

In a videotaped deposition, the celebrity chef has reportedly admitted openly making racist jokes and slurs. She even confirmed that she wanted to costume black waitstaff as slaves at a wedding party she was overseeing.

“Yes, of course,” Deen replied when asked if she had used the N-word openly.

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“I can’t determine what offends another person,” Deen added, according to the report in the National Enquirer.

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The admission came last month amid a lawsuit filed by Lisa Jackson, who once managed a Savannah, Ga., restaurant owned by Deen and her brother.

In a brief, carefully worded statement Wednesday, Deen’s lawyer defended his client without denying the reported remarks.

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“Contrary to media reports, Ms. Deen does not condone or find the use of racial epithets acceptable,” Bill Franklin of the Savannah law firm Oliver Maner wrote. “She is looking forward to her day in court.”

Deen, host of “Paula’s Home Cooking” and other shows on Food Network, has become one of the most controversial figures on reality TV. She’s been attacked for promoting food with unhealthy ingredients. Last year, she revealed she suffers from Type 2 diabetes, which doctors say is associated with high-calorie diets. Her revelation became part of the ongoing national debate over healthy eating habits and weight control.

What do you think of Deen’s latest tempest?

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Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT

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