Paula Deen Settles the Suit That Wrecked Her Empire

The lawsuit that prompted Paula Deen to disclose her past use of a racial epithet ended with a settlement agreement Friday, nearly two months after intense media scrutiny of allegedly boorish behavior and discrimination inside her businesses led to the collapse of her culinary empire. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed; the one-sentence statement filed in U.S. District Court in Savannah announced only that all parties had agreed to dismiss the case.

Deen said in a statement issued through her publicist on Friday that she is “working to review the workplace environment issues that were raised in this matter and retool all of my business operations.” She acknowledged no wrongdoing. “I am confident that those who truly know how I live my life know that I believe in kindness and fairness for everyone,” she said.