“The Food Network is, evidently, run by PC idiots!”
It is not that they are idiots, but that they could not sell advertising for Deen’s show.
No advertisers, no program.
No one knows if that is true. The Food Network hasn't had the opportunity to explore whether that is/would be the case or not. They jumped on any excuse they could find to dump her.
IMO, it will ultimately cost the Food Network much more than it will cost Paula Deen.