Paula Deen tweeted a photo of her son wearing brownface in order to impersonate Cuban-born I Love Lucy character Ricky Ricardo, along with the words "Lucyyyyyyy! You got a lot of esplainin' to do!" When complaints rolled in, Deen was quick to throw her social media manager under the bus.
In a statement released to NBC News, a representative for Deen said: "Paula Deen's Social Media Manager posted a picture this morning of Paula and Bobby Deen dressed in costume as Lucy and Ricky, from I Love Lucy. This photograph is from a 2011 Halloween episode of Paula's Best Dishes."
"Paula immediately had this picture taken down as soon as she saw the post and apologizes to all who were offended," the statement said. "As such, Paula Deen Ventures has terminated their relationship with this Social Media Manager."
Deen and her brood are enjoying a comeback because Deen's core viewership doesn't seem to mind the racist statements she's made in the past:
Deen, 68, once a popular TV chef known for bathing her Southern cuisine in butter, was embroiled in scandal two years ago when she admitted in a deposition to using the N-word and once considered throwing a "plantation-style" wedding. At the height of the outrage, she lost her Food Network programs and multimillion-dollar retail deals before tearfully telling Matt Lauer on Today that she is not racist.
Deen's adult sons have a new show scheduled to begin airing soon on The Food Network, called "Southern Fried Road Trip."
