Paula Deen Says Her New Doc Tells the ‘Truth’ About Her Racism Controversy (Exclusive)

Paula Deen is addressing why she decided to share her story in a new documentary, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I’m looking for the truth,” Deen, 78, said at the PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock studio. “The truth, if you watch the film, you will find it out.”

Canceled: The Paula Deen Story, which debuted Sept. 6, comes more than a decade after the scandal that shattered the culinary star’s multimillion-dollar empire.

The film, directed by Billy Corben, chronicles the controversial television personality’s journey from the catering business she started in her kitchen with $200 to her 11-year run on the Food Network, which ended when she was fired in 2013 as a result of her admission to using a racial slur in a sworn deposition. 

The deposition was part of a lawsuit filed by Lisa Jackson, a former manager of one of Paula’s restaurants, Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House. Jackson accused Deen’s brother Bubba Hiers, who ran the restaurant, of sexual harassment and using racially offensive language.

A federal judge in Georgia dismissed the lawsuit after a settlement was reached, but the controversy cost Deen numerous business deals. 

Jackson issued a statement following the settlement. “The Paula Deen I have known for more than eight years is a woman of compassion and kindness and will never tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind toward anyone,” the statement read in part.

In the documentary, Deen maintains that when she admitted to having used the racial slur, she was referring to the aftermath of a 1987 incident, when she was held at gunpoint while working at a bank. 

“I thought Billy did a great job of telling the whole story and putting it together,” Deen says. “It was very understandable.”

Asked what she learned about race and racism in the United States during the controversy, Deen replied, “I think I was very gullible because the different races that were entwined in our life. I was surprised.”

Paula’s two sons, Jamie, 58, and Bobby, 55, appear throughout the film — but they had differing opinions going into the project.

“I was the most skeptical of all of us about doing the documentary, and I’ve purposely not seen the film,” Bobby said Sunday. “I wanted to see it here in Toronto, in this environment. So I’m sort of reserving my judgment. I still don’t know how I feel about it. I’m excited for the film, but still nervous about it.”

“I’m most excited for my mom,” said Jamie, who was more enthusiastic about participating in the documentary. “She wants to be able to speak for herself and she should be able to. She’s earned that. And the reason why she’s doing it is to receive something and I hope that she gets it.”

Jamie added that he’s a “huge admirer” of Corben’s work.

“it’s really such a treat for me to get to see him work and to be a part of it,” he says. “It’s just unbelievable. So my viewpoint on this film is that if the filmmaker and my mother are happy, it’s just another blessing in a long line of blessings.”