Caesars Entertainment cutting ties with Paula Deen Enterprises

Caesars Entertainment Corp. is dropping its relationship with the company operated by troubled celebrity chef and southern food connoisseur Paula Deen.

In a statement Wednesday, Caesars it reached “a mutual agreement” with Paula Deen Enterprises not to renew the two companies’ business relationship.

Caesars operates Paula Deen-themed restaurants at four of its properties: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Harrah’s Tunica in Mississippi, Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina and Harrah’s Joliet in Illinois.

Caesars intends to rebrand the restaurants in the coming months.

Deen has come under fire after disclosing she made racial slurs during a past lawsuit deposition.

Caesars Executive Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs Jan Jones Blackhurst said the company appreciated Deen’s “sincere apologies” for the statements.

“After thoughtful consideration of their impact, we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time,” Jones Blackhurst said.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.