Paula Deen's Sons Defend Mom: Racism Scandal Is "Character Assassination"

Paula Deen's sons have come to their mom's defense in the wake of her racial slur scandal.

Appearing on CNN's New Day Tuesday, Bobby Deen and Jamie Deen said that the celebrity chef is not a racist and has been a victim of character assassination after a leaked deposition in a discrimination lawsuit revealed her use of the N-word.

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"Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted toward any other person for any reason," said Bobby Deen, the host of Cooking Channel's Not My Mama's Meals. "Our mother is one of the most compassionate, good-hearted, empathetic people that you'd ever meet. These accusations are very hurtful to her, and it's very sad... I'm disgusted by the entire thing, because it began as extortion and it has become character assassination."

Since the deposition leaked, Paula Deen has been dropped by the Food Network, and QVC said it was reviewing its relationship with her and had no immediate plans to have her on the channel. Additionally, pork product company Smithfield terminated its partnership with her over the weekend.  

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Jamie Deen whose Food Network show Home for Dinnerwill not be affected, called the uproar "ridiculous" and said that it's "completely absurd to think there is an environment of racism in our business, and it's really disrespectful to the people that we work with."

Watch the brothers' interview below.