Paula Deen Making $75M Comeback

Get ready to see much more of Paula Deen. The celeb chef seems to have rebounded from last year's mess over her use of a racist slur with an investment of $75 million from a private-equity firm, reports CNN Money. Deen is teaming with Najafi Cos. to create Paula Deen Ventures, and she's reportedly in talks with retail chains and TV networks about partnerships. (The Food Network says it is not among those talking to Deen.)

Deen tells the Wall Street Journal that she's confident she will succeed given that "hundreds of thousands of my fans sent me messages of love and support," especially through the We Support Paula Deen Facebook page. TMZ notes that Jahm Najafi, owner of the company backing Deen, also owns SkyMall magazine and wonders whether "Paula's pots and pans (will) end up in the mag." (More Paula Deen stories.)