Thursday, June 27, 2013

IN DENIAL - PAULA DEEN: PAULA DEEN refuted allegations she is racist on the "Today" show yesterday, but her repeated denials and her appearance in general may have done her more harm than good. MATT LAUER didn't hold back on the former Food Network star grilling her for almost 15 minutes. It didn't help that Deen contradicted herself, and apparently didn't realize it.


She said she had only used the N-word 30 years ago when a black man put a gun to her head while she was working as a bank teller. So Matt asked her if she was lying in the deposition when she had admitted there were other times.  She said the testimony was accurate.  Then she came right back and said she had never used the N-word other than that one time

When asked whether she believed African Americans are offended by the N-word, Paula put it right back on them saying she it was "distressing" to her going into her kitchens and hearing "these young people" call each other the N-word.


"Entertainment Weekly" spoke with a "crisis expert" who blasted the way Paula handled her appearance. For starters, he noted that not once during the 13-plus-minute interview did Paula actually apologize. He also said she came across "as angry and mean," "clueless about race relations," and acted like she was the victim.

Perhaps that's why Deen just hired crisis PR agent Judy Smith --  the woman who was the inspiration for the fictional DC fixer Olivia Pope, played by KERRY WASHINGTON on the TV show "Scandal". Smith has previously worked with the likes of Monica Lewinsky and Michael Vick.

PAULA DEEN LOSES TWO MORE ENDORSEMENT DEALS: Paula Deen  lost two big partners yesterday: Wal-Mart and Caesars Entertainment. Caesars has Paula Deen restaurants in four of their casinos, but  announced yesterday they'll be "re-branded" immediately. The company decided it was in their best interest to part ways with her despite her repeated denial she is racist.

Wal-Mart issued a statement saying, quote, "We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed."


The recent scandal hasn’t affected book sales, though. Advance orders of Deen’s new cookbook, which doesn't come out until October, have skyrocketed in the past few days, up nearly 1,300% on Amazon.

Another Deen product that isn’t suffering is her annual cruise. A representative for Royal Caribbean, which runs the Paula Deen Cruise, said it remains in high demand, with an additional journey planned for 2014.

BRUCE JENNER MOVES OUT OF THE KARDASHIAN MANSION: BRUCE JENNER has moved out of the KARDASHIAN mansion, but it's not over marital problems. According to the not always reliable Radar Online, Bruce bailed when KIM, KANYE, and baby North moved in.


Said the source, “[Bruce] decided to ditch the family home because he was constantly being told to be quiet because of baby Nori.” Jenner also didn't like that he “was unable to have his friends over to fly their remote controlled helicopters in the backyard.” Word is KRIS, Kim and Kanye didn't want outsiders around because they were afraid one of them might try to take pictures of the baby and sell them to a tabloid or gossip site.That's right, exploiting that child for cash is what they do!

Radar says Bruce has moved to his Malibu, California beach house and that he plans to stay there for the rest of the summer.

ROMANCE REPORT - COURTENEY COX DATING CO-STAR: "Cougar Town" co-stars COURTENEY COX  and BRIAN VAN HOLT are "officially" dating, according to Us Weekly. Though romance rumors have been swirling about the two for years, an insider tells the tab they've really only been going out for "about six months."


CELEBITIES REACT TO DOMA RULING: Hollywood is rejoicing after the U.S. Supreme Court declared The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) "unconstitutional" and gave legally married same-sex couples the same federal rights as heterosexual couples.

ELLEN DEGENERES hit up Twitter and called it "a supremely wonderful day for equality." LADY GAGA tweeted, "the prejudice are now the minority" while "SNL" castmate SETH MYERS suggested "DOMA And Prop 8 should get married."

But the best celebrity tweet, in my opinion, came from JOHN STAMOS, who wrote ...
IS JUSTIN BIEBER DATING A MARRIED WOMAN?!: JUSTIN BIEBER'S alleged new girlfriend isn’t technically a free woman. Aspiring model and former Hooter's waitress Jordan Ozuna is being linked to the Biebs after they were spotted getting cozy in the waiting room of an indoor skydiving facility in Las Vegas the other day. (PHOTO)


But the gossip site Celebuzz reports Jordan is still a married woman. Jordan’s estranged mother-in-law Kim Ozuna says the 22-year-old married her son Daniel “right out of high school” and while the marriage only lasted a couple of years, they have yet to get divorced.

“They’ve been separated a good year,” she said, adding that her son is currently serving in the Coast Guard and probably doesn’t even know his ex has been hanging with Bieber.


Speaking of Justin’s visit to the indoor skydiving attraction … the owners of the place have banned him for life after he refused to pay for his ride. According to E! News, Bieber was afforded the choice of paying $1600 for his ride, or posting a photo of himself enjoying what Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving has to offer on the internet. Justin instead chose “C” -- ignore both options and stiff them.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S SON TAKES THE STAND/FAMILY WANTS PARIS FACEBOOK PAGE SHUT DOWN: Yesterday was MICHAEL JACKSON’S son’s turn to take the stand at the trial tied to the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Prince Michael’s grandmother, Katherine Jackson, against concert promoter AEG Live. The Jackson family contends that AEG is to blame for Michael's death, because they pushed him too hard and were responsible for Dr. Murray.


Prince told jurors he once overheard his father say “they’re going to kill me” following a heated conversation with AEG reps. Later, Prince recalled Dr. Conrad Murray simply saying to him and his sister, Paris, the day their dad passed away, “Sorry kids. Dad’s dead.”

He added Paris, who recently attempted suicide, was hit hardest by MJ’s death. "She was my dad's princess,” he said.

Meanwhile ... TMZ reports that Paris’ depression was caused by cyber bullying on Facebook and that the Jackson family wants her off Facebook, claiming the amount of negative comments posted on her page could have contributed to her recent suicide attempt.

Sources tell the gossip site Paris can’t handle the negative things people write on her page about her late father and his lifestyle, including the allegations he molested young boys.

Paris is currently being treated at the UCLA Medical Center and doesn’t have access to the social networking site, but sources say her family is very concerned she’ll have a relapse once she gets out. They are trying to get the page shut down, but Facebook’s policy is that only a user can shut down his or her Facebook page.


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