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"Paula Deen has lost a major endorsement deal with Smithfield Foods. The company has severed all ties with the celebrity chef after she caused controversy last week when  she admitted to using a racial slur in a leaked disposition.  Speaking to police in connection to a sexual harassment and racial discrimination suit against her and her restaurant in Georgia, Deen confessed to using the N-word and made comments comparing black waiting staff to &amp;quot;slaves&amp;quot;. Smithfield Foods yesterday (June 24) announced its decision to drop all endorsement and licensing partnerships with Deen, thought to consist of at least 17 major deals, reports The New York Times. Company spokesman Keira Lombardo said: &amp;quot;Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. Smithfield is determined to be an ethical food industry leader and it is important that our values and those of our spokespeople are properly aligned.&amp;quot; Smithfield - which is the world&amp;#039;s biggest pork producer - is not the only company to end its relationship with Deen since the controversy. Last week, The Food Network announced that it would not be renewing the chef&amp;#039;s contract with the channel. Shopping network QVC is also reportedly considering letting her go, which would see an end to Deen&amp;#039;s line of kitchen utensils. A QVC spokesperson said: &amp;quot;We are closely monitoring these events and we are reviewing our business relationship with Ms Deen. In the meantime, we have no immediate plans to have her appear on QVC.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a493074/paula-deen-loses-major-endorsement-deal-over-racial-slur-controversy/>