Paula Deen Fires Staffer Over Iffy Photo

Paula Deen didn't post a 2011 Halloween costume photo on her Twitter account showing her son Bobby in dark makeup as I Love Lucy character Ricky Ricardo, and the social media manager responsible for it was fired, say her spokesman. The photo from a holiday episode of one of the celebrity cook's former Food Network shows, with a tweet mimicking actor Desi Arnaz's accented English on the show, was quickly removed today from Twitter after it drew a flurry of criticism.

"Paula immediately had this picture taken down as soon as she saw the post and apologizes to all who were offended," according to a statement from spokesman Jaret Keller. He declined to identify the fired social media manager. The photo, which included Paula Deen, 68, mugging as the red-headed Ball, was from an episode of "Paula's Best Dishes," among the several Food Network shows that had starred the Southern cook. (More Paula Deen stories.)