Paula Deen didn’t exactly deny those allegations of race discrimination

DISCLAIMER: Since I’m getting the fodder for my post from RadarOnline (via the National Enquirer), consider the sources, and remember that what you are about to read are allegations. Plus, Ms. Deen’s team subsequently told Entertainment Tonight that Ms. Deen does not condone or find the use of racial epithets acceptable. So make of this what you will and don’t shoot them messenger…

Remember back when I reported here that a former employee of one of celeb chef Paula Deen’s restaurants had accused both Deen and her brother of race discrimination and sexual harassment? You’d expect that Ms. Deen would cast aside these “allegations” — especially the ones about her using the N-word and having black waiters perform as slaves at a wedding party — as slanderous accusations.

You’d expect that wouldn’t you?

Well, RadarOnline reports here that, at her deposition, Ms. Deen didn’t so much deny certain allegations as she did admit them.

When asked by [the plaintiff’s] Atlanta-based attorney if she’d ever used the N-word, Paula responded, “Yes, of course,” and gave examples of times she used the offensive term.

In terms of telling racist jokes, Paula said, “It’s just what they are — they’re jokes…most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks…I can’t determine what offends another person.”

And when asked if she wanted black men to play the role of slaves at a wedding she explained she got the idea from a restaurant her husband and her had dined at saying, “The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie.

“I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America…after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War…It was not only black men, it was black women…I would say they were slaves.”

Here’s a free piece of advice for my readers: Please never resort to the ole “I can’t determine what offends another person” defense. Trust me, the law doesn’t recognize it, because it’s ignorant.

UPDATE: Paula Deen Enterprises has released a statement to TMZ in which Ms. Deen does not condone the use of the N-word, but, then again, she was born in the south during the 1960s. So, cut her some slack, ok? (Just so we’re clear, that’s me being sarcastic.)

SECOND UPDATE: