Paula Deen's sons Jamie and Bobby spoke out on her behalf to CNN, asserting that their celebrity chef mother is not a racist.

"Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted toward any other person for any reason," Bobby told CNN on Tuesday. "Our mother is one of the most compassionate, good-hearted, empathetic people that you'd ever meet. These accusations are very hurtful to her, and it's very sad."

Paula was fired from the Food Network Friday after a deposition confirmed that she had used racial slurs on the sets of her cooking shows in the past. "I'm disgusted by the entire thing, because it began as extortion and it has become character assassination," Bobby added.

Jamie, who was with Bobby in the interview said that it's "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." Both Bobby and Jamie have their own cooking shows on Cooking Channel and Food Network, respectively

The biggest issue with the deposition had been Paula's use of the "n word," which Bobby said was not a word that was thrown around growing up: "That word, that horrifying, terrible word that exists and I abhor it coming from any person -- ... we weren't raised in a home where that word was used."

Paula's sponsor deal with Smithfield Foods ended Monday after the pork producing company terminated it. "Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind," the company said in a statement. "Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen."

Enstars reported Monday that QVC might be next in line to drop the chef from their lineup. The home shopping channel said that they do not tolerate discrimination and that they were reviewing their partnership with Paula.

Paula is scheduled to appear on The Today Show Wednesday morning for an exclusive interview with Matt Lauer.

Watch the clip of Jamie and Bobby defending their mother:

Tags: Paula Deen