Paula Deen's partnership with Caesars Entertainment is officially the latest casualty of the Southern chef's ongoing racism scandal, which resulted in her firing from Food Network.
USA Today writes that, according to a Caesars Entertainment statement, the company has "reached an agreement with Paula Deen Enterprises not to renew the business relationship." Memphis Commercial Appeal has more of the statement, which states that although the company "appreciate[s] Paula’s sincere apologies," the move is "in the best interests of both parties."
Caesars operates four Paula Deen Buffet properties in the following casinos: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, outside of Louisville; Harrah's Tunica, near Memphis; Harrah's Joliet, near Chicago; and Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina. The buffets will be rebranded in the coming months.
On Monday, Deen was dropped by Smithfield Foods. The company had previously sold Paula Deen-branded hams and Deen had served as a spokeswoman for the brand. Other sponsors are reportedly weighing their options.
Not everyone is itching to ditch Deen, though. The Huffington Post reported Tuesday that interest in Deen's annual Paula Deen Cruise has been so great since the scandal broke that its organizer added an additional departure for 2014.
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