Reverend Al Sharpton spoke to TMZ on Monday in response to a transcript of a court deposition involving celebrity chef Paula Deen. The transcript shows Deen admitting that she used the “n-word” a few decades earlier along with other racially questionable things (SEE RELATED: Paula Deen is sorry for using racial slurs.)

Sharpton, who is widely regarded as a civil rights leader, defended the diabetic celebrity chef.

“A lot of us have in the past said things we have regretted saying years ago,” Sharpton said. He was also asked a follow-up about racial stereotypes involving fried chicken. He responded that he doesn’t eat chicken.

In the wake of the lawsuit brought by a former employee of Deen’s, the Food Network announced Friday that it will not renew Deen’s contract for her show. She was also dropped as a spokesperson for Smithfield Ham on Monday, USA Today reported.

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