Oprah refused entry at hermes store

[modelmama]

Also from CNN:

Luxury store apologizes to Oprah

Hermes' Paris store had rebuffed talk show host


Hermes regrets not having been able to accommodate Ms. Winfrey and her team and to provide her with the service and care that Hermes strives to provide to each and every one of its customers worldwide," the store said in a statement. "Hermes apologizes for any offense taken due to such circumstances."

I want more blood .

The apology sounds a bit sarcastic to me. IMO- They used the word accommodate as if she ask for something out of the ordinary. All Oprah wanted to do was a little shopping. If anything , she was doing them a favor by being a patron at there establishment.

We all know things like this happen every single day and no apology is given---so HERMES should be an example. Bravo Oprah, I am/ We are with you all the way.

 

[pucci_mama]

I don't think Hermes, will exactly suffer from this, my bf, said that maybe some people will think the opposite that it's VERY exclusive and that even a woman like Oprah can't shop there, but I can.

But i just think it's damn wrong, but this it's not going to hurt Hermes' a week from now it's problaby all forgotten, which is sad

 

[modelmama]

There is too many conflicting stories at the moment. I want to see the video, and hear Oprah's side of this mess.

 

[Deleted member 1957]

am glad it happened to oprah because she has the means to tell the whole world how hermes paris is a BIG segregationist b*tch. Do they know that she is the most powerful celebrity in the world? he he he!!! I can see a slump in Hermes sales thats in case they didnt call her and apologise and offer her a day shopping free of charge!

 

[Theory]

Especially store employees, many of whom would have to save several paychecks just to purchase something at the very store that employs them......

It's sad that some people feel as if non-whites can not afford nice things.

 

[Theory]

I don't see how this is valid or makes sense. Many of these companies are publically owned and have to answer to a board of directors and investors (which could be me and you). I think the majority of Hermes is owned by the family, but companies like LVMH, Gucci, etc., are all dependent upon public monies to operate, which is why they are publically traded companies. That being said, there's no way these shops are privately owned enterprises and can simply do as they please....a shop cannot simply deny entry based on appearance (and in this case race is defintely an element which can't be ignored) that's why there are anti-discrimination laws here in the states (not sure about Europe). Such laws can even apply to private companies.

That's the thing about being a corporation...your employees are a reflection of you and represent you to the buying public and are a huge part of how the company is defined in the public's eyes. Does anyone know Hermes CEO, but they certainly know about their experience with the brand a certain SAs. Of course there people will say race was a non-issue...who would expect them to say, we didn't want to let that Negro in our refined shop? Are people really this blind to not believe this?

As a slight aside, they said they were having problems with North Africans (mainly what one would characterize as Arab countries) who typically have a much different look than those residing in sub-Saharan African......Could Oprah really pass as what one traditonally thinks is an Egyptian or Algerian person (I know I'm mixing race and nationality here, but you all get the idea). That's another reason why the whole story from Hermes side seems fishy.

well nobody actually said it WAS to do with her race.......

Prince you have a point there........a shop should be allowed to invite in or not invite in whoever they want......people often misunderstand that shops arent public rights......theyre privately owned

 

[lolita729]

''As a slight aside, they said they were having problems with North Africans (mainly what one would characterize as Arab countries) who typically have a much different look than those residing in sub-Saharan African......Could Oprah really pass as what one traditonally thinks is an Egyptian or Algerian person (I know I'm mixing race and nationality here, but you all get the idea). That's another reason why the whole story from Hermes side seems fishy. ''

Theory, that s true. North Africans are NOT black so their argument doesn t make sense at all.

And even if let s say the store WAS closed, why wouldn t they let her in??? It s Oprah and letting her in means more money for the store since she obviously gonna spend a lot. And any sane SA or even store manager, should be rolling down the red carpet for her instead of telling her that the store has been closed for 15 mns already for a private party or whatnot.

 

[model_mom]

Wait till Oprah sees this thread. I bet we're all going to get an invite to her show and get new cars or something.







(This comment was not made to make fun or bring up the race issue.....it was just an attempt to lighten things up) Oprah works in mysterious ways and if I was hermes I would watch my back.

 

[meme527]

These stores should have insurance up the ying yang for theft, if that is the problems they were having with North Africans. I'm sure that was just an excuse.

absolutely. when you are selling bags that cost 10 G, you'd better.

i love their older perfumes (unfortunately, i am thinking now) and was planning on making a trip to check our the new Ellena fragrances - "un jardin sur le nil" in particular. so you can bet i am taking my black behind into the local store and demanding excellent service!

 

[meme527]

I think Oprah would clean out the store if she could...

my thought was just the opposite. oprah doesn't need freebies from *anyone*, and after being so obviously discriminated against i doubt she'd fall for that old trick.

we are talking about a very intelligent woman here, people .

 

[meme527]

As a slight aside, they said they were having problems with North Africans (mainly what one would characterize as Arab countries) who typically have a much different look than those residing in sub-Saharan African......Could Oprah really pass as what one traditonally thinks is an Egyptian or Algerian person (I know I'm mixing race and nationality here, but you all get the idea). That's another reason why the whole story from Hermes side seems fishy.

When it comes to skin color, honey, black is black.

as a person who routinely gets followed in department stores because of my skin color, i can reassure you that dark skin is all it takes to be suspected of a crime.

 

[jssy4eva]

in my opinion...hermes has always been overrated...a status label....i'm sorry, it just seems like a way to scream at the world "i am rich out of my mind, and i used that to buy a $6000 purse"...yes the stuff is nice, but it can get ridiculous to a point...my family is pretty well off, but my mom has never really been into them at all...it's just like what's the point....buy what you like, be different if you want, be like everyone else if you want, but just be you.................if you like LV,buy LV, but don't think that you need to waste the money to be part of an "exclusive club"

that being sad...this is really bad pr for hermes....oprah is very influential....and i have a feeling that they are going to go from status item to herwhomes? considering oprahs long list of celeb pals, who probably are a big chunk of their customers....this is really not looking good for them

 

[AudiEC]

^ Exactly. "we've been having problems with North Africans" QUOTE]

^ As is always the case in France.

 

[modelmama]

So they were "setting up for a PR event"

HELLO!!

OPRAH in your store will add to it. Those PR folks walking into the shop and noticing who was there shopping....that would have been extra kudos for Hermes.

Complete Idiots! :::breathe:::: *Excuse me*

 

[Assembler]

I'm really confused now. Now I'm hearing stories that the store was already closed, set up was going on for something else, and she wanted in. If an ordinary person had wanted in they wouldn't have been let in (I don't get let into stores after they close). I can see how stupid it was that Hermes didn't let OPRAH in, but the original story that she was refused entry because of her race is starting to look a little fishy.

If Oprah is just mad that they didn't give her special treatment because of her celebrity status, but blaming it on racial discrimination, then that's poor taste on her part. Dumb of Hermes, but also a case of "I'm a celebrity, i deserve special treatment, but I better make this an issue about something other than celebrity".

I guess we'll know for sure when we see the surveillance videos that are told to support Hermes story of the event. Very curious though.

 

[Anastasia]

So interesting that you would post this because I was just thinking about the extremely inconsistent service in the stores on Condotti in Rome! In one store alone - Gucci - I had both atrocious (soooo bad & rude in the morning, my friends and I complained to the manager) and marvellous service (in the afternoon!) in one day.

Prada across Gucci on Condotti had great service I remember. And Tod's on Borgognona was always nice.

I don't think I made it into Tod's....the salesman in Ferragamo was quite nice - he seemed to be the only one around, and was speaking with a very well to do lady, and still stopped to ask me if he could be of service, and gave me a catalog I think the single sweetest salesperson we encounted was in Yves Saint Laurent. She was a doll. I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Gucci! We were very impressed with their staff's friendliness and the feel of the store, second only to Fendi(that gets bumped up because we got a personal tour and were allowed to use the elevator - I'm partially disabled - even though there was some footballer type trying on clothes, accompanied by his entourage and cameras back by the cordoned off elevators - ignorant Americans that we are, if he was famous we didn't know it, and didn't bother him. But HOT .

I suppose the Hermes salesperson acting so uncivilized was no big loss - the only thing I liked was an enamel bracelet with penguins on it ($950 IIRC Bruno Magli was also very disdainful - until my boyfriend declared he was going to buy me the flats I was lusting after. Then it was all smiles. Unfortunately they didn't have my size. I still sometimes feel wistful over those perfect, perfect shoes

 

[meme527]

If Oprah is just mad that they didn't give her special treatment because of her celebrity status, but blaming it on racial discrimination, then that's poor taste on her part. Dumb of Hermes, but also a case of "I'm a celebrity, i deserve special treatment, but I better make this an issue about something other than celebrity".

think about this for a minute:

does OPRAH WINFREY really need to lie? what would she have to gain?
do you have any reason to think that oprah would behave in this way? you are basically saying that she's peeved at not getting what she wants, so she is blaming it on racism.

i think it is odd that,

when a statement has been made that CLEARLY points to racist actions occurring (the store has been having problems with 'north africans');

when people are testifying that racism against blacks and people of african descent is a REAL PROBLEM in French/Parisian shops;

that there are some who would STILL accuse the victim of LYING in order to get what she wants. no matter WHO that person is or what they have shown their character to be like over the past 20 years or so that they've been in the public eye.


give me a break, please!

 

[modelmama]

I am appalled!

I don't think Hermes, will exactly suffer from this, my bf, said that maybe some people will think the opposite that it's VERY exclusive and that even a woman like Oprah can't shop there, but I can.

From one mama to another, I must say that there is some truth to what your BF said.

For those that can not look beyond skin tone- then YES- they will see this as a big step towards exclusion, but that's the negative.

Now Im NEVER going to get a Birkin
I pray and wish something positive comes of this .

*this might be irrelevant, but I wonder what JPG thoughts are*

 

[lolita729]

Wait till Oprah sees this thread. I bet we're all going to get an invite to her show and get new cars or something.


yaye, i want free stuff from her

 

[Assembler]

I just want to wait to hear all the facts. APparently the North Africans comment hasn't been neccesarily attributed to anyone, but was Oprah's groups explanation of the event. If the salesperson has indeed said that, then that OBVIOUSLY was wrong, and it was a racial thing.

But refusing entry to someone because the store is closed does not = racism in my mind. Stupid, if the person wanting entry is Oprah, but not racist.

If that remark was actually given by someone (which Hermes denies) then it was deffinitely racist. If that remark came about later, and was not something that anyone said but was just used as a possible explanation for why they would have refused entry to her, then it is just speculation.

I don't know which it is right now. There is video fotage which will at least show the timing and the mannerisms. I'd imagine if something racist was said, an immediate reaction will be seen, and the proper actions, such as firing or suing the individual should take place. BUT, since we have different explanations of events on both sides, I'm going to wait for something more objective before I base my own opinion (not that my own opinion would matter in the greater scheme of things). Calling a person, let alone a company racist is a big allegation, that should deffinitely be taken seriously, but also should be taken in light of evidence supporting it. Misunderstandings happen.

Not that I would ever shop in Hermes. Ha ha. I don't have the money for that world. So I'm certainly not trying to defend them, just offering a different way to look at the situation, and then standing back to see how the cards come out.

Really, is that such a horrible thing to do? People should avoid lynch mob mentalities.