Rev. Jackson Comes To Paula Deen's Defense
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Reverend Jesse Jackson was in Los Angeles Friday to discuss voting rights issues.
But he also spent a lot of his time defending embattled TV chef Paula Deen.
She asked him to help her do damage control and he was more than happy to help her repair her image.
Sears, the Food Network, Home Depot, and QVC -- to name a few -- have all cut ties with Deen.
"The statements made by Paula Deen were obnoxious. And she has expressed contrition," said Jackson.
Despite problems with several partners, millions of Deen's fans remain steadfast and in her corner. Publisher Random House and Christian-owned Tasty Blend Foods both have supported Deen and said she deserves better treatment.
Jackson, who himself was embroiled in controversy in 1984 when he referred to New York City in a way that insulted many Jews, said "No one is beyond redemption. We should not use her as a scapegoat of deeply embedded racial policies in our country."
