Paula Deen, the erstwhile Food Network star, is not having a very good week.

Food Network fired her last week after it was revealed that she had admitted to using racial slurs in the past, saying in a very to-the-point statement that it would “not renew Paula Deen’s contract when it expires at the end of this month.”

Deen tried to apologize via online videos, and cancelled a planned interview with NBC’s “Today” show last week to focus on a more direct route, but the 66-year-old cooking star hasn’t been able to get out of her own hot water.

In her first video, she stated that “Inappropriate, hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable.” She then went on to “beg” for forgiveness, but the hastily-cut video was soon replaced by a second, longer one in which she reiterated her view that racism was wrong and defended her family against what she described as a slanderous portrayal in the media.

The controversy began when a former employee of one of her restaurants, Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House in Savannah, filed a lawsuit accusing Deen of discrimination. She admitted in a deposition last month that she had, in fact, used the N-word, but that it had “been a very long time.”

Deen will now appear for an “exclusive interview” with Matt Lauer on Wednesday’s “Today” show, making up for her skipped Friday appearance.

In a related development, television shopping network QVC might be the next to fire Deen. The channel currently includes a show called “Paula Deen’s Kitchen,” which sells her line of cookware and other related items.

QVC issued a statement saying: “QVC does not tolerate discriminatory behavior. We are closely monitoring these events and the ongoing litigation. We are reviewing our business relationship with Ms. Deen, and in the meantime, we have no immediate plans to have her appear on QVC.”

Smithfield Foods, a pork producer which sells the Paula Deen Collection of hams and has counted the star as a spokesperson since 2006, also severed its relationship with Deen, saying in a statement that “Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen. Smithfield is determined to be an ethical food industry leader and it is important that our values and those of our spokespeople are properly aligned.”

Was firing Deen the right decision for the Food Network? Share your thoughts in the comments section.