Paula Deen Scandal: Sons Bobby and Jamie Stand Up For Their Mama

Amidst scandal, Paula Deen’s sons are standing up for their Southern mom as she’s being bombarded with criticism that she’s a racist, saying the allegations are "character assassinations."

Bobby Deen called his mother compassionate, good-hearted and empathetic in an interview with Chris Cuomo on CNN’s "New Day."

“Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted toward any other person for any reason,” he said.

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Paula Deen’s two sons, Bobby and Jamie Deen, defended their mother and talked about how much recent accusations that she’s racist have hurt her. The two are chefs in their own right, starring on TV shows and helping out in the family restaurant business.

The accusations are “ridiculous, completely absurd to think there is an environment of racism in our business, and it’s really disrespectful to the people that we work with,” Jamie Deen told CNN. He added that many of the people at their company have worked there for five to 20 years, and they would not have allowed themselves to be put in such a position.

Jamie Deen said his parents taught him about baseball legend Hank Aaron and how unfair it was that he went through such discrimination because of his skin color.

Paula Deen, 66, testified in a lawsuit deposition that she had used the “N-word” in the past, but said she hadn’t used the term for a very long time. Outrage over that response has led to the Southern cook being dropped from the Food Network, and by sponsors like Smithfield Foods.

Paula Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, are defendants in a lawsuit filed by Lisa T. Jackson, a former restaurant manager. Jackson accused Paula Deen and Hiers of making derogatory remarks about blacks.

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Not everyone is dumping Paula Deen. According to Fox News, Royal Caribbean’s “Paula Deen Cruise” will not only continue, but has added an extra cruise in 2014 because of the trip’s popularity.

Deen also has scheduled appearances in Dallas and Washington, D.C. Other sponsors or those connected with Deen’s businesses are taking the situation under consideration but have not made decisions yet.