Dive Summary:
- On Wednesday, Wal-Mart released a tersely worded statement announcing it is severing ties with Paula Deen.
- Wal-Mart's full statement read: "We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed. We will work with suppliers to address existing inventories and agreements."
- Wal-Mart's move follows in the footsteps of the Food Network's, Caesars Entertainment's and Smithfield Food's decisions to end their relationships with Deen, who has come under fire for using racist language.
From the article:
Last year, Forbes ranked Deen the fourth-highest earning celebrity chef–hauling in $17 million–thanks a slew of lucrative endorsement deals, most of which have evaporated in the past 48 hours.
Appearing on the Today Show earlier today, Deen asked for forgiveness. “If there’s anyone out there that has never said something they wish they could take back, please pick up that stone and throw it so hard at my head that it kills me. Please.”