Paula Deen takes aim at Anthony Bourdain after his suicide

Deen’s bold words about Anthony Bourdain

Celebrity chef Paula Deen doesn’t hold back in her new documentary Canceled: The Paula Deen Story. She takes a sharp jab at the late Anthony Bourdain, one of her most outspoken critics.

Premiering at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the film tracks Deen’s journey from food stardom to her 2013 scandal. It paints an unfiltered picture of her rise, fall, and ongoing fight for redemption.

Deen revisits feud with Bourdain

Canceled doesn’t shy away from Paula Deen’s infamous clashes with Anthony Bourdain. The celebrated chef and CNN star once blasted Deen as the “worst, most dangerous person in America.”

In the film, Deen recalls the fiery remarks and how they shaped public perception of her. Archival clips from 2011 resurface the harsh headlines and Bourdain’s biting critique.

Bourdain’s harsh critique resurfaces

The documentary features Bourdain bluntly dismissing Deen’s cooking, calling it “novelty food” rather than authentic Southern cuisine. He also ripped her diabetes drug endorsement, questioning her credibility.

Deen’s son Bobby pushes back, rejecting Bourdain’s claim that her food “sucks.” He defends his mother’s legacy, insisting both her dishes and reputation deserved far more respect.

Deen fires back with biting remark

Archival clips on The Joy Behar Show show Deen clapping back at Bourdain’s love of exotic eats. She quips, “Maybe my food is bad for you, but I don’t go around eating or serving unwashed a****s of wildebeests.”

The sharp jab highlights how personal their feud became, with Deen leaning into humor and sass to defend her brand against Bourdain’s biting criticism.

Deen keeps the jabs coming

In her documentary interview, Deen doesn’t hold back, taking another swipe at Bourdain’s adventurous palate. “I don’t know what he was off in these foreign countries eating. Bat brains or something like that,” she remarks.

She follows up with a dig that stings even more given his passing: “I think I’ll just stick with my fried chicken,” doubling down on her Southern food pride.

Reflecting on Bourdain’s death

Deen addresses Bourdain’s passing with a mix of sympathy and bluntness, saying, “God rest his soul. I felt like he didn’t like anybody. Not even himself, maybe.”

She goes on to express regret over their feud, noting, “He started something with me, and I’d never even met him.” Archival footage even shows her once inviting him for a home-cooked meal—an offer he never accepted.

Bourdain’s sharp retorts

The film closes the chapter with Bourdain’s biting remark that it would take “nuclear war” for him to eat Deen’s food. His words highlight just how heated their feud once was.

The documentary then revisits his response to one of her old remarks about his past struggles. Bourdain fired back that Deen was “probably still saying I’m shooting dope, in her nice southern way,” showing just how personal their back-and-forth became.

Deen’s career-defining scandal

Canceled also revisits the controversy that derailed Deen’s empire. Once America’s favorite Southern chef with hit Food Network shows and restaurants, her world unraveled after a 2012 lawsuit from former manager Lisa Jackson alleging racial discrimination and workplace harassment.

In her 2013 deposition, Deen admitted using a racial slur, saying “Yes, of course.” She later clarified it referenced a 1987 robbery incident, but that context was widely ignored.

The media firestorm begins

When Deen’s deposition admission went public in June 2013, it sparked an intense media backlash. The headline “Yes, of course” circulated widely, often omitting the full context of the decades-old incident.

Social media erupted, and major outlets covered the story without complete details. Filmmaker Billy Corben noted that “the headline spread, it didn’t spread the story,” turning the legal issue into a national debate on racism and accountability.

Corporate partnerships collapse

The Food Network terminated Deen’s contract, starting a major financial decline. Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Smithfield Foods, Caesars Entertainment, and other partners quickly cut ties.

QVC, Sears, and Novo Nordisk also ended sponsorships, showing the influence of public opinion in the digital age. Deen reportedly lost over $12 million as her once-thriving business empire unraveled.

The infamous Today Show appearance

Deen’s interview on NBC’s Today Show with Matt Lauer became one of TV’s most memorable celebrity moments. She tearfully defended herself, saying, “I is what I is, and I’m not changing.”

The emotional interview did little to stop public criticism or corporate losses. Lauer asked if she was just trying to “stop the financial bleeding,” and many saw her appearance as ineffective damage control.

Employee allegations emerge

After the initial controversy, more accusations came from Deen’s longtime cook, Dora Charles, once called her “soul sister.” Charles claimed Deen used racist language toward Black employees and asked staff to dress as stereotypical characters.

She also said promised wealth was never delivered and described being asked to ring a dinner bell in front of Lady & Sons. These allegations intensified the scandal and reinforced negative views of Deen’s workplace culture.

Life during the scandal aftermath

Deen described the period after her public downfall as devastating to her health. She told Fox & Friends in 2025, “I thought I was going to die of a broken heart,” as the controversy triggered her agoraphobia.

She credited millions of social media supporters for helping her through the darkest time. The scandal’s effects went beyond financial loss, causing deep personal trauma and social isolation.

The documentary revelation

In 2024, filmmaker Billy Corben began work on Canceled: The Paula Deen Story. He was drawn in after Bobby Deen’s reluctance suggested a deeper story to tell.

The documentary includes interviews with Deen and her sons, offering their side for the first time. Corben says Deen “still doesn’t understand what happened” and seeks answers, aiming to show a fuller picture of her career collapse.

Restaurant closures and current status

In August 2025, Deen announced the sudden closure of The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box in Savannah. She told fans that July 31st was the last day of service, ending 36 years of restaurant operations that made her a celebrity.

Deen now focuses on four remaining Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen locations in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Missouri. The closures coincided with her documentary work, signaling a desire to move beyond past controversies.

And if you love some Hollywood drama, wait until you see country music’s biggest feuds and rivalries.

Deen’s lasting feud with Bourdain

In Canceled, Deen revisits her long-running feud with Anthony Bourdain, a feud she admits still lingers. Her sharp jabs, questioning his food choices, mocking his criticisms, and saying he “didn’t like anybody, not even himself,” show how deeply their rivalry cut.

Even after his death, Deen’s documentary remarks prove she’s unwilling to soften her stance, keeping their bitter dispute alive.

Hollywood drama doesn’t stop there; see the fiercest battles stars have fought for iconic roles.

What are your thoughts on Paula Deen’s controversial remarks about Anthony Bourdain? Like and comment to join the discussion.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.