Paula Deen Reflects on Past Controversies and Anthony Bourdain

Paula Deen, 78, took aim at the late chef Anthony Bourdain, who tragically died by suicide at 61 in 2018, in her new documentary, *Cancellation: Paula Deen Story*. This film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday.

In the documentary, Deen stated, “Anthony Bourdain called me the most dangerous woman in America.” However, archival clips from *Entertainment Weekly* suggest that Bourdain had once referred to Deen as “the worst and most dangerous person in America.”

The film showcases footage from their ongoing feud. Bourdain was seen criticizing her cuisine by saying, “This is not the southern food she sells. Her brand is novelty food for the last few years.”

During an appearance on *The Joy Behar Show*, Deen expressed a bit of humor, saying, “Tell me something, my girlfriend. Maybe. It’s bad for you, but I don’t eat or serve the unwashed anus of wild wildebeests.”

Reflecting on Bourdain in the documentary, she expressed confusion over his actions abroad. “I don’t know what he was doing in these foreign countries,” she remarked. Deen concluded with, “God will rest his soul. It felt like he didn’t like anyone. Maybe not even himself.”

Footage included a clip of Bourdain reacting to one of Deen’s critical remarks. He humorously noted, “I like this quote, ‘Well, he had his demons. I hope he had control over them.’ He’s probably still filming dope, probably what she’s saying in a lovely southern way.”

Deen also remarked, “He started something with me, but I’m sure I’ve never even met him.” As a final note, Bourdain had previously stated in a past interview that he would rather endure “nuclear war” than eat Deen’s food.

The documentary also delves into the notorious 2013 racism scandal that severely impacted Deen’s career. During that time, she faced a lawsuit from a former employee, which revealed that she had used a racial slur while under legal deposition.

Within the documentary, Deen’s lawyer, Bill Glass, mentioned the racial slur in context, noting that “people should not have problems.” Deen admitted, “Yes, of course I used that word,” highlighting her complicated history with the incident.