"I believe that everyone should be treated equal," Paula Deen said from the Today show studio Wednesday morning.
It's been five days since Deen issued a series of video apologies after a leaked deposition revealed, "Yes, of course," Deen uses the n-word.
Since Friday, Food Network and Smithfield have cut ties with Deen.
"Would I have fired me? Knowing me? No," Deen said, adding that she believes she is not a racist. She reiterated that QVC has not yet fired her.
Deen on @todayshow: "I'm not gonna sit here and tell everything I've done for people of color."
Lisa Tozzi
@lisatozzi
Deen on @todayshow: "I'm not gonna sit here and tell everything I've done for people of color."
Paula emphatically states she has used the N-word once in her life and no other time. #PaulaDeenTODAY
@SavannahGuthrie
Paula emphatically states she has used the N-word once in her life and no other time. #PaulaDeenTODAY
Deen uses a version of the "other people use the N-word" defense. Cites "young people" in her kitchens. Says "it's very distressing to me."
Brian Stelter
@brianstelter
Deen uses a version of the "other people use the N-word" defense. Cites "young people" in her kitchens. Says "it's very distressing to me."
Matt asked Paula Deen if she wished she fudged the truth under oath and avoided all this. She said no, she raised her family not to lie.
Speakeasy
@WSJspeakeasy
Matt asked Paula Deen if she wished she fudged the truth under oath and avoided all this. She said no, she raised her family not to lie.
Deen: "If you have never committed a sin... pick up that rock, pick up that boulder and hit me as hard as you can"
Lisa Tozzi
@lisatozzi
Deen: "If you have never committed a sin... pick up that rock, pick up that boulder and hit me as hard as you can"
The interview ended with Deen in tears, but she veered away from apology.
"I is what I is and I'm not changing," she said.
She referred briefly to her lawsuit, brought forward by a disgruntled former employee.
"There's someone evil out there that saw what I had worked for and they wanted it."