Luxury store Hermes on Wednesday apologized to Oprah Winfrey for turning her away last week, saying that its Paris store was closed to set up for a public relations event when the talk show host stopped by. (via Boots and Sabers)Oprah is not buying their explanation. Apparently Oprah thinks the store discriminated against her because of her racial background, with her spokesman calling it a "crash moment." CNN helpfully adds:
The phrase "crash moment" refers to situations where a party feels discriminated against on the basis of skin color.Okey dokey. Meanwhile,
The New York Post, in its Monday Page Six gossip column, reported she was turned away because the store had been "having a problem with North Africans lately."So Oprah is a North African? Is she sure they didn't say North American? Or Chicago North Sider? Because I gotta tell you, Oprah doesn't exactly have Bedouin written all over her.
In comments to CNN, an Hermes spokeswoman categorically denied that allegation.
"There was never any discussion of North Africans," she said. "The story is not true."
Most likely she tried to pull a classic DYKWIA and got told that's great, and we'll treat you nicely tomorrow when we re-open. So now she's pulled out the Danny Glover and Hermes found out they were going to be subjected to a reverse Oprah Book Club effect, which is at least better than getting the Al Sharpton Freddie's Fashion Mart treatment, but hardly good for business.
The funny part about all of this? This happened in Paris, France. Gee, I've never heard of anyone getting rude treatment in Paris, France. Why, they just love Americans over there, don't they?
Maybe she should've spoken German. I bet they would've popped those gates open faster than you can say "Maginot Line."
Despite Hermes' apology, Oprah has her issue to sympathize with her fellow African Americans and we'll get to hear all about it.
"No really, I can really sympathize with you not getting that job because you're Black. Why, just a few months ago I was planning on having dinner with my friend Tina Turner and I wanted to buy her a $10,000 watch as a gift and the store security guard took one look at my black skin and closed the store. Hmm-mmm."
That's Oprah, just one of the downtrodden victims of racism.
