Paula Deen Restaurant Employees Upset After Establishment Closes
Paula Deen's restaurant Uncle Bubba's Seafood & Oyster House previously got the restaurateur in hot water when she was accused of making racist jokes, and now its employees are reportedly outraged that the establishment closed down.
Deen, the 67-year-old restaurateur and cooking show host, made headlines last June when one of her former restaurant employees alleged that she made racial jokes at the establishment. Now, TMZ is reporting that the restaurant closed abruptly with some employees not finding out until they showed up for work and others learning through Facebook.
"One employee told us they were paid through Wednesday and got vacation pay along with two weeks severance," TMZ reported. "The employee said the whole ordeal was particularly hurtful, since so many staffers stuck up for the Deen family during the controversy -- some patrons threw food at them and they still defended Paula."
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Last year Deen's sponsors dropped her and distanced themselves. After a public apology and some time away from the spotlight, The Wall Street Journal announced that the restaurateur is looking to make a return with her new company Paula Deen Ventures.
Deen's new company will be backed by Najafi Cos., the company that is investing millions in her and also owns the Book-of-the-Month Club and BMG Music Service.
"The Paula Deen brand is alive and well," Jahm Najafi, the head of Najafi Cos., told The Wall Street Journal last February. "Our investment allows the Paula Deen brand to expand their relationships and the partnerships that are already in place, and support those partnerships on a go-forward basis."
The publication is reporting that Deen's new company is in talks with possible partners, television networks and retail chains to return to form in her industry. The news comes after she was dropped by a number of sponsors including Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Walgreens, QVC and The Food Network last year.
Despite the backlash she received, Deen's Facebook fans seem to have grown. Najafi says this is a sign that Deen can return to the top of her game.
"The important thing to remember is that her fan base is rabid," he told The Journal. "Her Facebook fan base has more than doubled in the past year."
