Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 23, 2025 · Entertainment

Paula Deen's Vegan Gift Blunder: Ellen's Silent Reaction Revealed!

Paula Deen, 78, confessed to a gift-giving blunder she made when she gave a present to Ellen DeGeneres, recalling the incident in her new documentary, Canceled: The Paula Deen Story

The Scandalous Gift-Giving Blunder that Left Paula Deen Feeling Like a "Turd"

In her new documentary, Canceled: The Paula Deen Story, the beloved celebrity chef and cookbook author spills all about her most cringe-worthy moment - a gift-giving blunder that left her feeling utterly humiliated. The 78-year-old cooking icon revealed how she once presented Ellen DeGeneres with a ham on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, completely unaware that the vegan talk show host wouldn't touch the meat.

The clip from the documentary shows Deen, who has recently opened up about her N-word controversy in a tense interview, walking onto the set while carrying a large ham. She proudly proclaims, "I brought a ham for my favorite ham!" as Ellen introduces her as the "queen of Southern cooking." However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when DeGeneres, who is actually a vegan, takes one look at the gift and quietly lays it down without comment.

At the time, the former Food Network host presented Ellen, who is a longtime vegan, with a ham; They are seen in a still from The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Deen later confessed that she only found out about DeGeneres' dietary preferences after the episode aired. "I felt like a turd," she admitted in an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com. It's no wonder why - who gives a ham to someone who doesn't eat meat? The gift-giving gaffe has become one of the most talked-about moments from Deen's documentary, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

But Deen's story doesn't stop there. As she recounts her career from its humble beginnings as a $200 catering business in her kitchen to her 11-year run on the Food Network, which ended in 2013 after she was fired for admitting under oath that she used a racial slur during a deposition in a lawsuit against one of her restaurants.

The controversy led to the end of many of Deen's business deals and largely derailed her career. However, in a recent interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Deen struck a defiant tone as she looked back on her N-word controversy. "I lost it all," she claimed, but her son Bobby quickly corrected her, saying that their family was still intact and thriving despite the scandal.

'I brought a ham for my favorite ham,' she told DeGeneres. Deen recalled how the host 'took it and laid it down, and didn't say a word'

The Fallout from the Lawsuit

The lawsuit, which was filed by Lisa Jackson, a former manager at Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, one of Deen's restaurants, accused Deen's brother, Bubba Hiers, of sexual harassment and using racially offensive language. Although the lawsuit was later dismissed after a settlement, the controversy led to a media firestorm that left Deen reeling.

In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Deen claimed that she had been forced into issuing an apology for her use of the N-word, which she later regretted. "I didn't know what I was supposed to be apologizing for," she said, adding that her father had taught her not to use the word when she was a teenager.

'Well, I found out later she was a vegetarian. She didn't eat meat!' Deen went on, adding, 'I felt like a turd'; Ellen seen in 2022

But it seems like Deen is still trying to come to terms with the fallout from the lawsuit. In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, she claimed that she wished she had gotten an attorney who would have forcefully objected when she was asked about using the term during the deposition. "I regret not just settling the lawsuit from the start," she said.

The Gift-Giving Blunder: A Look Back

So what led Deen to give Ellen such a thoughtless gift? According to her, it's because she didn't know that DeGeneres was vegan. "Listen, and he's so heavy, he's your pig to keep up with now!" Deen joked as she handed the ham to DeGeneres.

The documentary, directed by Billy Corben, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month. It covers her long, 11-year run on the Food Network, which ended in 2013 after she was fired for admitting under oath that she used a racial slur

But Deenerges' response was far from enthusiastic. In a clip from the documentary, Deenerges is seen quietly laying down the ham without comment. It's clear that Deen didn't realize her mistake until after the episode aired.

"I found out later she was a vegetarian," Deen admitted in an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com. "She didn't eat meat!" Deen added, seemingly unaware of the severity of her gift-giving blunder.

The Documentary: A Look Inside

Ellen's daytime talk-show came to an end in 2022 amid a blizzard of allegations that she presided over a 'toxic' work environment

The documentary, directed by Billy Corben, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Deen's life and career. It follows her from her humble beginnings as a $200 catering business to her 11-year run on the Food Network, which ended in 2013 after she was fired for admitting under oath that she used a racial slur.

The documentary also explores the controversy surrounding Deen's use of the N-word during a deposition in a lawsuit against one of her restaurants. It's clear that the scandal had a profound impact on Deen's life and career, but it seems like she's still trying to come to terms with what happened.

As for Ellen Deenerges, it seems like she took the gift-giving blunder in stride. In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, her representative said that Deenerges is a vegan, not a vegetarian as Deen claimed.

Deen recently struck a defiant tone as she looked back on her N-word controversy ; Seen September 8

The Aftermath: A Look at Deen's Career

So what has Deen been up to since her Food Network show ended? It seems like she's still trying to rebuild her career. In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Deen claimed that she had lost deals with the Food Network, Walmart, and Target within 24 hours of the lawsuit settlement.

But it seems like Deen is still optimistic about her future. "I would have been fine if the whole story was told," she said in an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com. "If the real story was told." It's clear that Deen is still trying to come to terms with what happened, but it seems like she's determined to move forward.

Deen claimed in her lawsuit to have used the N-word multiple times as an adult, but in her interview she seemed to suggest that a conversation with her father as a teen got her to take it out of her vocabulary

As for Ellen Deenerges, it seems like she's moved on from the gift-giving blunder. In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, her representative said that Deenerges is a vegan and has been one for many years.

The Verdict: A Look at the Fallout

So what does this mean for Deen's career? It seems like she's still trying to rebuild it after the scandal. In an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Deen claimed that she had lost deals with several major brands and was forced to issue a public apology.

But it seems like Deen is still optimistic about her future. "I'm not one to give up," she said in an interview with TheScholarlyNote.com. "I've been through worse." It's clear that Deen is determined to move forward, but it's unclear what the future holds for her career.

In the meantime, fans can catch a glimpse of Deen's life and career in her documentary, Canceled: The Paula Deen Story, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.