Disgraced chef Paula Deen to go on 'Today' show

Paula Deen has got some serious explaining to do — and she’ll do it in a very public forum this week.

The chef, who recently admitted during a discrimination lawsuit that she’s used the N-word in the past, is scheduled to appear on the “Today” show Wednesday, “Today” host Matt Lauer said on air Monday.

Deen was slated to appear on the NBC morning show last week to talk about the racist comments she’d made, but canceled at the last minute. According to Lauer, Deen “told us she will be here this time.”

Since the scandal broke, the Food Network gave Deen and her cooking shows the boot.

Just Monday, the pork company Smithfield axed 66-year-old Deen’s line of Smithfield hams, telling TMZ.com: “Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. ... We are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen.”