Food Network star Paula Deen has released a pretty awkward video apology in response to the racism scandal that hit this week.
The video was posted to her YouTube channel Friday afternoon, but has been set to "private" twice since then.
Deen is being sued by the former manager of her Georgia restaurant Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, who claims there was a culture of racial harassment at the restaurant. Comments from a May court deposition went viral earlier this week.
"I want to apologize to everybody for the wrong that I've done," she said. "I want to learn and grow from this. Inappropriate, hurtful language it totally, totally unacceptable. ... I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners, I beg for your forgiveness."
Deen cancelled a scheduled appearance on the "Today" show Friday morning in which she was supposed to sit down for a one-on-one with Matt Lauer.
After the cooking star flew to New York Thursday night, "Her publicity people have told us that she's exhausted and will not be showing up," said Lauer on-air, relaying that Deen had told him the day before: "I don't know how to be anything but honest."
Lauer tweeted Friday:
Hoping to get more info on the Paula Deen situation soon. Very confusing.
— Matt Lauer (@MLauer) June 21, 2013
Watch Lauer explain the full back story on "Today":
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Deen is also in hot water Friday for allegedly failing to turn over a blooper reel — in a $1.2 million sexual harassment lawsuit — in which she is said to perform a sexual act on a chocolate eclair and swear up a storm, according to RadarOnline.
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