Paula Deen is back with a new radio show and podcast, the celebrity chef's latest efforts to dig herself out of the racism scandal that nearly deflated her career in 2013.
Deen's latest venture with Compass Media Networks is her biggest step back to mainstream media after a 2013 lawsuit accused her of using racial slurs in one of her restaurants.
The scandal created a whirlwind of negative publicity and cost her the show on The Food Network, endorsements, book, and television deals.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote that a federal judge in Georgia ultimately threw out the lawsuit in August 2013. Since then, 68-year-old Deen quietly began working on rebuilding her celebrity cooking empire image, doing cooking show tours, engaging fans with special appearances, and other events.
"I had my first day in the studio yesterday and we had so much fun! I cannot wait to bring my vignettes and podcast to listeners around America,"
Deen told People magazine of her new radio show. "I have a ton of fun tips up my sleeve to make their life a little easier."
The podcast is slated to premiere May 1 and will be targeted toward country and news-talk stations around the nation.
"Meanwhile, her daily project titled 'Get Cooking with Paula Deen' will feature tips to help fans both in the
kitchen and at life," E! News reported. "But fair warning, the segments will only be about one-minute long each day. Finally, her live 30-minute weekly show 'What's Cooking with Paula Deen' will continue and include her creative director Brandon Branch."
Never one for standing idle, Deen also launched her own digital network online this past September and said on Tuesday's "Meredith Vieria Show" that she returned because of her fans.
"I have to say it's the hardest thing that I've ever been through in my life," Deen said. "When people ask me, 'Paula how does one get through things like that?' I tell you it was the four F's: My family, my friends, my faith, my fans. My fans saved my life . . . They would not even consider me just going away."
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