The Paula Deen E! True Hollywood Story

There will be an E! True Hollywood Story about Paula Deen that will air this Monday, October 14th on E! at 10:00 PM/ET.  The story will detail her story of coming from nothing to soon having a multi-million dollar empire.  It will then take a look at how her empire crumbled after the national scandal that was ignited by a lawsuit.

Many people weigh in on her success as well as the lawsuit that took her down including Gordon Elliot (producer), Jamie and Bobby Deen, Allen Salkin (author), as well as legal and PR experts. 

Press release with more details and some quotes from people appearing on the show is below:




E! PREMIERES THE “TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY: PAULA DEEN” MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 AT 10:00 PM ET/PT

Exclusive Interviews With Her Sons, Her Husband, Her Aunt, Food Network Producer Gordon Elliott and Other Experts Tell The True Story of The Controversial Food Queen

"I had a little rough patch this summer. But you know it was an opportunity to learn. I learned a lot about myself. I certainly learned a lot about my business.”- Paula Deen

Los Angeles - October 7, 2013 – Chef, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy award-winning television host — the improbable life of Paula Deen is a rags to riches tale of a broke, divorced mother of two who carved out a multi-million dollar empire as America's southern sweetheart, only to see it all fall apart amidst a national scandal ignited by a lawsuit. Compelling interviews from friends and family members follow her ascent to the throne as the undisputed Queen of Southern Cuisine. From her humble beginnings in Albany, GA, to her 20 year bout with agoraphobia, to her remarkable rise as the hottest restaurateur in Savannah and her surprising 13 year run as Food Network sensation, we’ll reveal Paula’s path to beloved pop culture icon. Additionally, commentary from legal and PR experts will help examine Paula Deen’s shocking and abrupt fall from grace. The lawsuit that started it all, the Infamous deposition where she stated she had used the N-word 25 years earlier, the Food Network's decision to end their 14 year relationship with Deen, the rash of corporate sponsors that dropped her — we’ll relive the dark summer days that threw Deen’s empire into a tailspin. Don’t miss this fascinating story, when E!’s “True Hollywood Story: Paula Deen” premieres Monday, October 14 at 10:00 PM ET/PT.

Notable quotes from the show include:

“Let me tell you the secret to Paula. It wasn’t about the food, it was always about the stories.” – Gordon Elliott , Producer, "Paula's Home Cooking"

“The media sensed there was something blubbery and bleeding and vulnerable in the water. And it attacked.” – Allen Salkin, Author, “From Scratch: Inside the Food Network”

“The African-American community who were vilifying her have come back to say to me, ‘She did not deserve what's happened to her.’ All of us have said things that we regret." -- Rev. Dr. Leonard Small

“She will always have an audience. I won’t be in it, but she will have an audience.” – Anthony Bourdain, Celebrity Chef

“If we were any closer, we’d share underwear. Our relationship and our bond has been forged through fire.” – Jamie Deen, Paula’s Son

“If people knew the kind things my mom has done for the community and for families over the years, I think that they would be stunned.” – Bobby Deen, Paula’s Son

“I think the most tragic thing about this is that the reason her career imploded had nothing to do with this lawsuit. It has to do with the fact that she was asked a question, and then answered it as honestly as she could.” – Jonna Spilbor, Attorney

“This woman has endured and conquered more adversity that most people had ever imagined possible, and my money’s always on Paula.” – Gordon Elliott, Producer, "Paula's Home Cooking"

E!’s “True Hollywood Story: Paula Deen” premieres Monday, October 14 at 10:00 PM ET/PT