Paula Deen talk leads ‘Today’ to win over ‘Good Morning America’

Paula Deen may be losing business partners faster than she can make biscuit gravy, but her “Today� interview drew a crowd.

The scandal-fried celebrity chef’s sit-down with Matt Lauer on Wednesday lifted NBC’s morning show to its first win over archrival “Good Morning America� since November.

“Today� averaged 4.8 million total viewers, just slipping past “GMA’s� 4.6 million, according to Nielsen.

PHOTOS: Paula Deen scandal

Deen was trying to salvage her reputation after a deposition surfaced last week in which she admitted to using the N-word and other racial insensitivities. On “Today,� she alternated between tears and defiance, denying she was a racist and declaring, “I is what I is.�

Last week, Food Network dropped “The Butter Queen,� as some have called Deen, and this week Wal-Mart Stores and Caesars Entertainment followed suit. On Thursday, Target announced that its stores would also stop carrying Deen’s merchandise.

ALSO:

Deen on ‘Today’: ‘I is what I is’

Commentary: ‘Someone evil’ is after Deen

More companies bail on Deen after ‘Today’ interview

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT