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Paula Deen's cookbook is No. 1, publisher drops her anyway

By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com
Paula Deen speaks to the press at the Country Music Television Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on June 9, 2010. UPI/Terry Wyatt
1 of 5 | Paula Deen speaks to the press at the Country Music Television Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on June 9, 2010. UPI/Terry Wyatt | License Photo

Paula Deen's no good very bad month continued Friday when her publisher announced it was canceling the publication of her cookbook -- despite it skyrocketing to the top of the best-seller list on Amazon.

Balllantine Books was to release "Paula Deen's NewTestament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up" on October 15, but said Friday it had cancelled the publication.

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"Customers will be notified that the publisher has canceled this book," said an Amazon.com rep. "As the case with all Amazon.com pre-orders, customers' credit cards are not charged until the book is shipped/delivered."

The publisher's decision is in response to the fallout after Deen admitted to using the n-word in a May 17 deposition as part of a $1.2 million lawsuit filed against the chef and her brother by a former employee.

Since the story broke two weeks ago, Deen's empire has crumbled around her. The Food Network, which aired the show "Paula's Home Cooking" decided not to renew her contract, which expires this month. She was also dropped from deals with Smithfield Foods, QVC, Walmart, Caesars Entertainment, Target, Novo Nordisk, Home Depot, J.C. Penny, Sears, and KMart.

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