Celebrity Chef Paula Deen Closes 2 Restaurants
Paula Deen is closing up shop, y’all.
The former Food Network star, along with her sons Jamie Deen and Bobby Deen, announced they have closed her two restaurants in Savannah, Ga., where she started her catering business The Bag Lady in 1989.
“Hey, y’all, my sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box,” Paula wrote in the joint statement shared to Facebook Aug. 1. “Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years.”
The 78-year-old—who shares Jamie, 58, and Bobby, 55, with ex-husband Jimmy Deen—also emphasized the family’s appreciation for their patrons over the past three decades.
“We have endless love and gratitude for every customer who has walked through our doors,” Paula continued. “We are equally grateful to our incredible staff—past and present—whose hard work, care, and hospitality made The Lady & Sons what it was.”
She added, “Savannah will always be our home, and we’ll always be here to support our wonderful community.”
Though Paula and her sons have closed the two locations—and removed them from the “Restaurants” section of Paula’s website—the family will continue to operate multiple locations of her other restaurants.
“We will now focus our attention on the four Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen locations across the country—in Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Branson,” the statement concluded. “We’re excited to continue visiting these restaurants regularly, starting with Branson on August 8th.”
Following the announcement, patrons noticed that windows at the Lady & Sons location were covered with brown paper and signs were hung on the door that read, "It is with heavy hearts and tremendous gratitude that we announce that we have retired and closed," according to CBS News.
Paula faced public controversy in 2013 when she confessed to using racial slurs, resulting in her firing from the Food Network and the cancelation of her Paula’s Home Cooking show. Since apologizing for the offenses, the chef expanded her Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen empire and now regularly shares her recipes on YouTube and her Fox Nation show At Home With Paula Deen.
Read on to see other shows that were canceled following public controversy.
Roseanne is just the latest show to be yanked off the air following the actions of its star. Roseanne Barr sent a tweet comparing Valerie Jarrett to an ape, then apologized for it and claimed it was a joke. The damage was done and ABC canceled the series after just one (revived) season on the air.
Oxygen pulled the plug on this reality show starring Shawty Lo and his 11 children with 10 different women before it even made the air after public outcry.
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Dustin Hoffman! HBO! Drama! All the recipes for success. However, the series was canceled in 2012 following the death of three horses during production on the series.
The Food Network dropped Paula Deen in 2013 following the TV personality's admission regarding her use of the n-word.
"I have had the pleasure of being allowed into so many homes across the country and meeting people who have shared with me the most touching and personal stories. This would not have been possible without The Food Network. Thank you again. Love and best dishes to all of ya'll," Deen said in a statement.
While not canceled during its original run, The Cosby Show reruns were pulled by virtually every network starting in 2014 (aside from BounceTV, that came later in 2018) when rape allegations against Bill Cosby made headlines.
Another show not canceled during its original run, 7th Heaven reruns were pulled after series star Stephen Collins allegedly confessed to molesting young girls. UP TV brought episodes back several months later, but then pulled them yet again.
In 2015, TLC pulled the plug on 19 Kids and Counting, the reality series that followed the Duggar family, after allegations of sexual abuse by Josh Duggar surfaced.
In a lengthy statement, the network said the "recent attention around the Duggars has sparked a critical and important conversation about child protection." TLC said it began working with victims' rights and advocacy organizations to discuss how to use the moment to address child sexual abuse. The network worked with groups such as RAINN and Darkness to Light—and the Duggar family—for a one-hour documentary.
However, the Duggars weren't off TLC for long. A new series, Counting On, followed the siblings—minus Josh—from 2015 to 2021.
A spinoff of TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo followed Alana Thompson and her family, including Mama June Shannon, dad Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, and her three sisters. The series was a ratings hit for the network, but everything changed when reports surfaced that Mama June was dating a convicted child molester. TLC canceled the show in 2014.
"TLC has cancelled the series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and ended all activities around the series, effective immediately," the network said in a statement. "Supporting the health and welfare of these remarkable children is our only priority. TLC is faithfully committed to the children's ongoing comfort and well-being."
Mama June went on to appear on Marriage Boot Camp before landing her own TV show about her weight-loss journey and her family, Mama June: From Not to Hot, in 2017.
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