As controversial as her father was, Laila Ali showed surprising restraint on Tuesday.
TMZ asked the daughter of the former heavyweight champion of the world whether her opinion of disgraced chef Paula Deen had changed since Deen's omission of having used racial slurs in the past during a legal deposition in June.
Ali appeared on "Paula's Best Dishes" a couple of months before the show was taken off the air.
"No," Ali responded to the question. "I don't know much about her other than that she's a good cook and I still feel that way."
Ali, who was walking with her husband, former NFL player Curtis Conway, then tried to laugh it off before TMZ asked a follow-up of whether she thought Deen should still be cooking.
"She's going to cook, regardless," Ali said.
Deen admitted under oath that she had used the N-word in the past. The Food Network chose not to renew her contract, and Smithfield Foods, a pork producer who paid Deen as a celebrity endorser, also dropped Deen after her admission became public.
According to TMZ, Ali joined Deen on the Food Network show "Paula's Best Dishes" back in April to cook up some Cloverleaf Rolls, Brussels sprouts, stewed beef and cheese grits.
Ali, however, clearly wanted to avoid any controversy during the impromptu interview with TMZ.
Not exactly reminiscent of Muhammad Ali, who was outspoken, gregarious and even defiant in matters of controversy.
Muhammad Ali was famous - or infamous - for his religious beliefs, which led to a jail sentence for not reporting for military service in 1967.
TMZ took Laila Ali's comments as a show of support for Deen and said that support would help Deen's quest for redemption.
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