Paula Deen's return to "Today" has been slated after a year of hiatus.
The former Food Network star appeared on the show for an interview with Matt Lauer - her first since June 2013.
Deen reportedly discussed "what she has learned" after the onslaught of criticism that she got from using racial slurs thirty years ago.
What reportedly happened was a former employee filed a lawsuit against Deen, citing racial discrimination and sexual harrasment. The celebrity chef admitted under oath to having used the n-word and was immediately dropped by business partners including Food Network, Target, Walmart and QVC.
Now it appears that Deen is ready to make a comeback.
In an interview with Lauer for "Today," she spoke about her meltdown the last time she was on camera and revealed that she did not watch the footage. "That was a woman in trauma, shock, trying to understand what happened," she explained. "And you know the cold hard fact, Matt, is I probably should not have been here. I should have been home, maybe under the care of a doctor."
She also shared her thoughts about companies severing ties with her at the height of the issue. "I did [understand], but I have to say, it took me a while because I was confused as to the length of time since those words had been part of a language. I had a hard time understanding because it had been 30 years," Deen said.
"I learned so much when I sat quietly with my own thoughts," Paula Deen shared. "Words are powerful ... Well, my words hurt people. They disappointed people. And frankly, I disappointed myself. And for that, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for the hurt that I've caused people."
And as part of Paula Deen's comeback, she reportedly bought the online rights for her cancelled Food Network shows. The shows were acquired to be shown via an Internet video-subscription service which is slated to launch next week.
