Houston Greets Paula Deen With Cheers at First Public Appearance (& 10 minute standing ovation!) [View all]

[big_dog]

Source: The Houston Chronicle

September 15, 2013 10:31am Fallen cooking star Paula Deen fought back tears as she was greeted by cheers and a standing ovation from a crowd of about 1,500 during her appearance at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show at Reliant Center.

It was Deen's first public appearance since late June, when news broke that she had used a racial slur.

"These are tears of joy, y'all," Deen told the audience. "I've said all along that the one place I'd want to make my first step back out is Texas. Y'all's hearts are as big as your state." Houston resident Sherry Carter and her daughters, Shana Randle and Michelle Sanders, who were among a few African-American fans in the audience Saturday, said the allegations hadn't turned them against Deen.

"When I first heard about it, my feeling was, she got caught," Carter said. "Just about everyone I know has used the word. At least she was honest about it."

Four friends from the Fulshear-Richmond area wore sashes and carried placards with Deen's photo to show their support.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-greets-Paula-Deen-with-cheers-at-first-4814722.php?cmpid=hpbn