Poor widdle queen Oprah.
Posted on 06/22/2005 5:11:21 AM PDT by America First Libertarian
Snub a pocketbook issue to Oprah
Oprah Winfrey wants to hit Hermès where it hurts - in its fine leather wallet. You may have heard that the talk queen was denied entry to the luxury-goods store's Paris branch last weekend at closing time. According to one report, Hermès staffers rebuffed Winfrey because they didn't recognize her and because they'd been "having a problem with North Africans lately."
But friends of Oprah say that's bunk.
"They knew exactly who she was," a pal tells us. "They specifically said, 'We know who you are.'"
The source says Oprah arrived just after 6:30 p.m., when there were still shoppers inside the store. According to the source, Oprah politely asked an Hermès sales clerk if she could dash in. She knew what she wanted: a specific watch for Tina Turner, her dinner partner that evening.
Now if the No. 1 celebrity on Forbes' power list - a woman who earned $225 million last year - knocked on their doors, many shopkeepers would carry her in on a litter, even if it was midnight.
Instead, she was rebuffed - first by the clerk, then by a store manager.
Though Oprah hasn't accused the Gauls of racism, her friend suggests, "If it had been Celine Dion or Britney Spears or Barbra Streisand, there is no way they would not be let in that store."
Hermès' brusque treatment understandably came as a shock to someone who recently bought a dozen of the store's Birkin bags, which can run $6,500. In fact, Oprah had just ordered another one.
After last weekend, she canceled that order.
We also hear she's called Robert Chavez, president of Hermès in America, to inform him that, although she has long enjoyed his stores, she will no longer be shopping there.
We also hear she may share the incident with her 22 million-plus viewers.
"We are calling it Oprah's 'Crash' moment," says the friend, recalling the new movie about race in America.
Our calls to Hermès weren't returned yesterday.
This isn't the first time Oprah is alleged to have gotten a hard time in the luxe lane. In 1994, a former employee of Bulgari alleged in a lawsuit that the jewelry store hiked its prices for Oprah and other celebs. The store denied the charge.
France and Italy are two of the most racist countries on the planet, barnone.
I think places like Hermes treat everyone poorly.
Amusing that this is called Oprah's 'Crash' moment based on a movie about 'race in America' - when this little incident occurred in friggin France.
Yes, but each race has its own field! Kind of like San Francisco, where tolerance is king queen, but you are expected to stick to neighborhoods of your own color.
You see, it was really Bush's fault!
"At closing time" Now there's a clue if I ever saw one. How bout that, Monica?
I was about to say...they wouldn't have let ANYONE it at closing time.
They are not necessarily racist, and, I don't blame them for not wanting North Africans in their store either.
In actuality, having her in the store at that time would in itself have been a security problem. While everyone was flaunting over Oprah, a thief could have had a field day. I have no problem with the store refusing her entry. What I do have a problem with is Oprah thinking that she can waltz into a store anytime she wants. If she wanted the watch so bad, she should have gotten her butt over there at a normal time. What's the matter Oprah, can't mingle with the common folk?
Didn't they hear? She's NOT North African, she's a ZULU!
count on the french to always do exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time...
Don't know how popular this store is to the Oprah rank and file, but I'll bet the store is going to regret this.
If Hermes is publicly traded, it might be time to short the stock or just bail out if you happen to hold it. This one is gonna hurt.
No way...more free publicity.
Even "too exclusive" for Oprah.
This is a coup for the store.
And, I'm certain it's not the first time they don't let in a celebrity after closing time.
You think people are going to stop shopping there because they didn't let in Oprah after hours?
No way, this is going to increase sales, for sure.
I don't much care for Oprah but if she wanted to come in my store at closing, I would be more than willing to accomodate her. Maybe that's just me. Then again, my town is 70% black and I'm not "frightened" by black people.
Oh I don't know... I think if any american celebrity showed up at closing time Hermes would turn them away... after all THEIR FRENCH! Politeness is not in their character.
Poor widdle queen Oprah.
Ummmm...what if it had been just some anonymous Joe Blow of any race? Could he have expected to be "carried in on a litter" after the store was closed?
You've just got to love the total narcisism and myopia of these celebrities.
Oprah's cult following shops at Walmart and Target, not Hermes. And they buy her magazine and pump up her TV ratings so she can gross $225,000,000 for telling them that she understands their pain. Her fans are that gullible.
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