Author: Erin Carlson

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Paula Deen

After leaving Matt Lauer in the lurch last week, Paula Deen is poised to appear for an interview on Wednesday’s edition of Today in the wake of the N-word controversy that prompted Food Network to cut ties with the TV chef.

“She has told us she will be here this time,” Lauer said Monday on the air.

The live sitdown will be exclusive to the NBC morning show, which had previously snagged Dean for Friday’s broadcast — the segment fell through, however, when she backed out, with her PR team citing “exhaustion” as the reason. Later in the day, bypassing a grilling from Lauer, Deen released two videos apologizing for using racial slurs and begging fans for their forgiveness. Meanwhile, Food Network issued a statement saying the cable channel — which had housed Deen’s series for more than a decade — would not renew her contract when it expires at the end of the month.

Deen, who admitted to using the N-word during her deposition for a discrimination lawsuit from a former employee, addressed her firing in a statement over the weekend, saying: “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.”

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Paula Deen in happier times.

After standing up Matt Lauer, embattled Food Network chef Paula Deen says she will address her N-word controversy in a video statement.

Deen blew off her planned interview with Lauer, a no-nonsense and deceptively tough interviewer, that was to air exclusively on Friday’s edition of the Today show. But just before the 7 a.m. air time, her PR team reached out to the NBC morning program, explaining that Deen was “exhausted” and she would not be showing up.

VIDEO: Paula Deen Cancels ‘Today’ Interview

The celebrity chef, who had flown into New York Thursday night for the occasion, was apparently holed up in her hotel, opting to bypass a grilling from Lauer and address the controversy of her use of racial slurs in a controlled setting.

By afternoon, Deen broke her silence on Twitter, announcing that a video statement was about to be released and posting a photo of herself taping the missive.

In a deposition for her current discrimination lawsuit, in which the 66-year-old and her brother Bubba Heirs are being sued by a former employee, Deen admitted to using the racial slur in the past, but said she wouldn’t use it today.

Representatives for Deen and The Food Network did not respond to The Hollywood Reporter‘s request for comment on her decision to pull out of the Lauer interview.

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Paula Deen in happier times.

After standing up Matt Lauer, embattled Food Network chef Paula Deen is addressing her N-word controversy in a video statement.

“I want to apologize to everybody for the wrong that I’ve done,” she said. “I want to learn and grow from this. … Inappropriate hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. But I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners, I beg for your forgiveness. Please forgive me for the mistakes that I’ve made.”

Deen blew off her planned interview with Lauer, a no-nonsense and deceptively tough interviewer, that was to air exclusively on Friday’s edition of the Today show. But just before the 7 a.m. air time, her PR team reached out to the NBC morning program, explaining that Deen was “exhausted” and she would not be showing up.

VIDEO: Paula Deen Cancels ‘Today’ Interview

The celebrity chef, who had flown into New York Thursday night for the occasion, was apparently holed up in her hotel, opting to bypass a grilling from Lauer and address the controversy of her use of racial slurs in a controlled setting.

By afternoon, Deen had broken her silence on Twitter, announcing that a video statement was about to be released and posting a photo of herself taping the missive.

In a deposition for her current discrimination lawsuit, in which the 66-year-old and her brother Bubba Heirs are being sued by a former employee, Deen admitted to using the slur in the past, but said she wouldn’t use it today.

Representatives for Deen and The Food Network did not respond to The Hollywood Reporter‘s request for comment on her decision to pull out of the Lauer interview.

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com