Just a couple days after Paula Deen’s forthcoming cookbook topped Amazon’s best-sellers list, Ballantine Books, a Random House imprint, announced Friday it was making the “difficult decision” to cancel publication of the book.
Advance sales for “Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes All Lightened Up,” which was scheduled to be released in October, skyrocketed after numerous sponsors dropped the TV chef after she admitted to using racist language more than two decades ago.
Refunds for those who pre-ordered the book will be handled by the various retailers, said Random House spokesman Stuart Applebaum, as CNN Money reported.
J.C. Penny and Sears announced on Friday they would stop selling her products. Home Depot, Target and Wal-Mart also have decided to end their deals with Miss Deen, prompting her to seek assistance from the crisis-management firm Smith & Company, CNN Money reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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