A man who claims to be Paula Deen’s former employee has accused the disgraced TV chef for not compensating him for catering events outside of his work obligations.
Sheldon J. Ervin, who claims to have worked at Bubba’s Oyster House as a oyster cook from 2008 to 2010 told RadarOnline that Deen required her restaurant employees to regularly serve at catering events at her own Savannah mansion, and would compensate them in beer and liquor.
“I used to work for her parties and I spent so much time there I could go there today and punch in the code to her gate,” Ervin told the gossip site. He added that he filed an Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity complaint against Deen.
Erwin, a newlywed with a baby on the way at the time, claimed he was never compensated for a graduation party that he and three-to-five other men helped set up.
“I didn’t want to, but they threatened our jobs and put it on the line,” he said.
Deen, 66, said in a her now controversial recorded deposition that she dreamed of having a Southern plantation-style wedding where black waiters would dress in a “black tie and white jacket” and serve guests.
He similarly claimed that she would allegedly have her employees dress in that same fashion for her own parties.
“They told us we all had to wear black slacks, black shoes and a white chef jacket with a hat,” he said. “If we didn’t have the money to buy it, they said they would give us the money to go buy it. I didn’t want to wear it because it was burning hot outside, but Miss Paula insisted.”
“Paula had us all stationed at a few shady spots in the yard,” he continued. “She wanted us all to stay in one spot. We weren’t allowed to move. They didn’t want us to interact or anything. They just wanted us to sit there and serve everyone and not say anything.”
Erwin said that being compensated with alcohol was “insulting an unfair.”
“I don’t even drink,” Erwin stated. “It was insulting and unfair. I was like, ‘Pay me!’”
Deen’s Food Network show has been canceled amid allegations of racism and sexism stemming from a $1.2 million lawsuit filed by a former employee. She has since released two YouTube videos where she apologized for using “inappropriate, hurtful language.”
Erwin said that he’s pleased with the celebrity’s chef’s downfall.
“I’m so happy that this has finally come,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”