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Boutique Rep Responds To Oprah Winfrey's Racism Allegations! Claims It Was A 'Misunderstanding'!

8/09/2013 7:33 PM ET | Filed under: Icky Icky Poo • Wacky, Tacky & True • Fashion Smashion • Oprah Winfrey • Tom Ford • Retail Therapy
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Hmm, something still seems fishy to us. Oprah Winfrey recently divulged a story of how an encounter with a salesperson at a boutique in Zurich left her f… Read more…

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76 comments to “Boutique Rep Responds To Oprah Winfrey's Racism Allegations! Claims It Was A 'Misunderstanding'!”



  1. 1

    poor opie dope, a sales lady in Swiss didn't know who she was. boo-hoo

  2. ... says – reply to this


    2

    100% with Oprah on this case!
    And I would add:
    Fuck you racist asshole all around the world!
    Go to hell unnecessary droppings!



  3. 3

    poor opie dope, a sales lady in Swiss didn't know who she was. boo-hoo.

  4. imasocialbutterly says – reply to this


    4

    I dont think this was racism. It is a really bad case of stereotyping. Oprah was dressed comfy on vacation like the rest of us!!!! I believe the sales person wasn't discriminating because of color or race…but was being a stuck up snob that judged solely on looks. It still makes the sales person a loser…but probably not a racist.

  5. rosetatoo says – reply to this


    5

    If it is True ,then these people , does not have d PROPER know how ,to train sales people..That Big BOSS should be Fired….If I own D Store, That Boss been gone a Minute Ms Oprah walk out d Door… MERCY!!!

  6. teeter totter says – reply to this


    6

    Read about this earlier, the bag cost $40k which I could live on for 1.5 years. Send me the money Oprah and I will send you via your manager a lovely, unused (tags still on) leather handbag in dark brown my late husband gave me one Christmas.



  7. 7

    The average Black African American experiences this on a regular basis. Is Oprah that out of touch with her own people? Why not find ways to fix this instead of wasting time on promoting images that are not accurate? Images which, in fact, perpetuate the average Black African American daily experience.

  8. karen says – reply to this


    8

    Ever see the hidden cam vid of the guy peeing in the coffee pot at work? I'm sure the person who hired him had no idea he would do that. I don't blame the boss for this one, I blame the clerk.



  9. 9

    as a Swiss person I have to say Oprah could have been showing her black or platinum credit card and it would maybe have been working out - I was in retailing too and if I thought someone could not afford something I would have been suggesting other things too.

    also Oprah should be aware no one knows much about her here - and it's for sure the lady did not regocnize her - to cry immediately racism is like all those feminist bitches who are always feel discriminated by every peanut



  10. 10

    Re: imasocialbutterly – I agree. When you schlump out with comfy clothes, you get snubbed no matter what color you are.

  11. AG55 says – reply to this


    11

    As someone who works in retail this salesperson is a complete idiot. One of the first things you learn is always assume your customer can afford the most expensive item. If they can't they will tell you. You always try to up sell your customer.

  12. Courtiger says – reply to this


    12

    HAving experience at many upscale RTW boutiques every brand is told to upselll every client so this woman's blatant stereotyping is abhorrent especially after what happened to Tom Ford himself and Safilo Group. Shame on the owner for trying to sweep this under the rug!

  13. sara says – reply to this


    13

    I think we are all missing the real issue here which is, NOBODY ON EARTH NEEDS A PURSE THAT EXPENSIVE BE THEY BLACK WHITE OR PURPLE. Good god.

  14. sara says – reply to this


    14

    Also, they probably wouldn't even let me IN that ridiculous store and I'm white from middle America!



  15. 15

    I'd close my shop if Okra Panfry was headed my way; Okra makes every sales clerk LICK HER ASS-HOLE & stick their tongues DEEP INSIDE HER HOLE.



  16. 16

    Good for the Sales Clerk; people DO NOT OWE Okra Panfry anything!

  17. diabless55 says – reply to this


    17

    Who cares?! Oprah probably has a gazillion white people working for her, LOL!
    But boo-hoo, some sales associate in Switzerland didn't recognize her and that probably put her right back down to earth just like the rest of us mere mortals.



  18. 18

    Everyone KNOWS Okra Panfry doesn't shop retail; she looks around making the sales clerks KISS HER ASS and then leaves the store and has her assistants buy whatever she liked online or asks her STUPID fans to buy it and send it to her her..



  19. 19

    Lived in Switzerland for 2 year. I don't know what Oprah expects, there are like 5 black people in Zurich. One is Tina Turner, the rest are British. People in Zurich thinks their shit doesn't stink. They are some of the snottiest people I have ever met.



  20. 20

    its a expensive hand bag she prob says that to everyone of course u have to jump to conclusions the woman is a racist why not try understanding what the woman is saying instead of jumping to nasty conclusions about the poor lady whos english is a second language whos the racist now..oprah can afford the whole shop prob and this womans wages for 1000 years likely

  21. memyselfandi says – reply to this


    21

    She didn't think Oprah looked like she could afford it? Lol I bet that sales lady feels silly now, because Oprah's one of the richest ladies in the world. How hurtful for Oprah though to have come so far in her career and to have someone remind her that racism is alive and well.

  22. Evie says – reply to this


    22

    "misunderstanding" is the new way of saying "i'm not racist, i have a black friend/family member/spouse".

  23. memyselfandi says – reply to this


    23

    Re: Anuschka – let me guess…your skin is white? Lol - you have no clue. Racism exists sweetie and it is alive and well. People of color deal with it every day. I do agree, however, that this may have been just plain snobbery. Even so, whether it was racism or not, it was insulting and discriminatory to stereotype a customer. I bet she felt silly when she found out just how much Oprah can afford.

  24. memyselfandi says – reply to this


    24

    Re: Kittens With Mittens – I agree 100%. This is true. Doesn't make it right at all and it's just as hurtful, but so very true. I hate that! I've had this happen and I'm not rich lol. If I dress nice I get treated a certain way, but if I dress down more, I get treated like a trash bag. People assume too much about others. You can never tell how much money someone has by the way that they dress. I've seen some of the wealthiest dress like your average Joe or Jane that you pass on the street. You really can't always tell.

  25. malloway says – reply to this


    25

    So when this kind of thing happens to white people would you call that racism? Or something else? That's why this isn't racism. The woman passed judgment, but it wasn't necessarily about race. From now on whenever someone doesn't treat me like my shit don't stink I'm gonna cry racism. You know what I think is racist? Accusing whites of being racist every time any little thing happens, especially when that thing is something that HAPPENS TO US WHITE GUYS TOO.



  26. 26

    Sounds to me like this person had no idea who Oprah was, and in a celebs own delusional world that is highly offensive. So instead of pulling the "you don't who i am" card she was lucky and got to pull the "its cause im black" card.

  27. Rosie 0H says – reply to this


    27

    She is a fat ass racist bitch
    She has a movie coming out, and she wants some FREE publicity, and what better way for her to get attention, than screaming RACIST< RACIST, she is as bad as Prune Face Sharpton
    And I'M sure most of you have forgotten this story, Oprah pulled the same shit a few years back in Paris, said a clerk at Hermes was rude, and it was because Oprah was black

  28. Kafantaris says – reply to this


    28

    Snubbing Oprah Winfrey because of her race is certainly wrong and "a public relations disaster for Switzerland."
    On the other hand, casually shopping for a $35,000 handbag might not necessarily make Oprah the best poster child for race equality.
    Or have we forgotten that "Oprah does not do stairs."



  29. 29

    Why oh why does everything have to come down to race?? Trust me, whites get this kind of treatment every day. The bottom line is there are assholes in ever part of the world and in every race.

  30. Wow says – reply to this


    30

    Crocodile leather? Classy… Guess she's not vegetarian?

  31. mr pete says – reply to this


    31

    Maybe, just maybe if there was not such a high rate of black shoplifters
    than honest black folks would not be so scrutinized
    Blacks make up about 12% of the population, but commit about 30% of the crimes

  32. Casey says – reply to this


    32

    I agree. Not buying it, but has that girl been living under a rock? It's freaking Oprah



  33. 33

    They should have fired the sales woman and apologized. It's clear the woman thought Oprah couldn't afford it. Whether it's because of her race or not, it's rude.



  34. 34

    The sales clerk WAS NOT RACIST; she didn't want a HUGE FAT DISGUSTING SLOB dripping sweat all over the store & scaring away REAL CUSTOMERS with her entourage of pathetic ass-kissers!

  35. Ben says – reply to this


    35

    Re: Anuschka – I think it's hilarious when people who know absolutely nothing about certain social and political topics make complete fools of themselves trying to sound analytical. Please just STFU. You're going to send us back decades.

  36. CourtneySucks says – reply to this


    36

    Hillary's posts are always hilarious XD

  37. James says – reply to this


    37

    Theres nothing to do with racism! That can happen to white people too.Drama Queen;)



  38. 38

    Don't this bitch know Oprah could buy Switzerland!! Dumb Bitch.

  39. SImoneHeinzKetchup says – reply to this


    39

    Re: Anuschka – As a Swiss (not by blood though) I 100% agree with you. I've experienced the same - I didn't cry racist because there are nuances of stereotyping/judging! America, open your eyes to new cultures and deeper levels of analysis when it comes to human behavior - it's not always what the media OR Oprah claim it is! Think on your own two feet and recognize that MUCH WORSE is happening out there that is in fact, racism. But not this case. Sorry.



  40. 40

    Re: Rosie 0H – You are right, this is the same BS from before! When I heard it, I thought she was talking about the time it happened years ago. This is too much, Oprah, use your imagination, this is getting old.



  41. 41

    geez the world is making such a fuss about the damn cost of the bag
    just google the olson twins and see what they sell their damn bags for …



  42. 42

    I definitely believe racism exists, but it's hard to say if the salesperson's judgement came from racism. As someone who has worked in high end retail I have definitely seen co-workers stereotype customers, but it generally had nothing to do with race (usually it was foolishly based on their overall appearance). If the salesperson at this store saw Oprah dressed a little more casually maybe that's how she figured the bag was out of her price range. And I can see how the language barrier could've made her wording a little more blunt than she would normally be. Once again, retail sales stereotyping is dumb, but from my experience it happens on an "equal opportunity" basis. I've seen it happen to plenty of white people, so it's hard automatically assume it happened in this instance solely because she is black.

  43. Ana says – reply to this


    43

    I'm white and i've entered in stores where people look at me like "what the hell are you doing in here…you're to poor to buy in this store" just because I dress casually (and this was at a Levi's store, not something like this). And let me tell you, it is humilliating. I doubt this was about racism. She probably was "underdressed" in the sales lady opinion. It is still wrong to assume that someone doesn't have money just because they don't go to a store dressed as if they were on a fashion show though.

  44. fur lovers says – reply to this


    44

    its for the best, people shouldn't buy skin, hellllloooooo endangered animals, aren't purses DX

  45. fur lovers says – reply to this


    45

    poor crocodile, not oprah

  46. Misty says – reply to this


    46

    Each country has its own culture and differences. I'm a fashion designer and shop owner and I train my staff so they can make the customer happy…which not always means trying to sell the most expensive item in the shop. If I go shopping and the shop assistant tells me they've got similar things to the one I'm looking for but with lower prices, I'd be more than happy! And surely I'd never go to tell the world what happened using my image and popularity so a whole country would apology to me. Poor show Queen O, poor show…

  47. Dany says – reply to this


    47

    Re: rosetatoo – the "boss" is the owner of the Tom ford shop as well as many other very high end shops in the same area …. Shame on her

  48. lala says – reply to this


    48

    Re: Anuschka – how do you know how much money someone has just because of what they're wearing? Lots of rich people dress in comfy clothes. You're dumb.

  49. Snotsie says – reply to this


    49

    Doesn't matter if the salesperson knew who she was. Doesn't matter that she wanted to buy a purse that costs what most people make in a year (she can afford it). What matters is that she is a woman of color and the clerk profiled her in advance and decided she couldn't afford the handbag. It wasn't for the clerk to decide. It is profiling at best, racism at worst. Oprah has a big heart and has always been altruistic when it comes to causes dear to her heart. She has given away more money than most in Lala land, she just doesn't advertise it every time she does it (a la Brad and Angelina, Madonna or Lady Gaga).



  50. 50

    I can see both sides of the story here. But Oprah was in Europe. Oprah is not exactly as well known as Madonna there.

  51. Jacquie says – reply to this


    51

    She says it was a misunderstanding then goes on to say that the salesperson wanted to show her a less expensive bag. Where's the misunderstanding? She assumed a black women would not be able to afford the expensive bag and the owner backed up the allegation. Morons.

  52. DeVon Thomas says – reply to this


    52

    They stereotyped her based on her race. She was dressed in a Donna Karen ensemble that cost that bread. She should not have been treated that way regardless of what name brand she wore. The store was wrong and I don't understand why people would are trying to justify their behavior.



  53. 53

    Re: shaygirl1309 – boohoo for the "christian lady" who goes saying "jesus is love" only "god can judge" to internationally humiliating someone who for all you know truly didnt know. also, every atheist i know who wouldnt waste that much money on a shitty bag has a hell of a lot more spirituality. bet it was made with fur and leather of dead animals too



  54. 54

    i think this about sums up the "christian lady" who goes about saying "jesus is love" only "god can judge" to internationally humiliating someone who for all anyone knows: truly didnt Know. wanna add that every atheist i know who wouldnt waste that much money on a shitty bag has a hell of a lot more spirituality. bet it was made with the fur and leather of dead animals too

  55. Devynn says – reply to this


    55

    When Tiffany opened on The Plaza in KCMO, my cousin and I went to look at the diamonds. We were both dressed in street clothes, jeans and tshirts. We're also black. I got to try on 30+ FLAWLESS carat emerald ring in a back viewing room. We walked around the store w help at every turn and treated like we had as much money as Oprah. Why? Bc good customer service says that money is green and can buy anything. Just bc we didn't look like we had tons of money, doesn't mean we deserve to be treated any less. Tim Ford needs to have an etiquette class for his sales force. Good retail customer service ALWAYS assumes that unless the customer tells you otherwise, they can buy the store.

  56. drew from chicago says – reply to this


    56

    Remember the Hermes incident she the nasty O couldn't get what she wants so she guess what the race card money can't buy class and she never had any despite how much she's worth. I live in Chicago near her and we do not find her classy she is an actual ass kisser

  57. RICHIE RICH says – reply to this


    57

    The owner contradicts herself. If you listen to her explanation she says "The salesgirl wasn't sure it was even Oprah." Listen to her explanation it's FULL of contradictions. The stores loss she could of sold a $38,000 bag now all she has is loss of sales?

  58. Alexandra.Euro says – reply to this


    58

    A little thought-provoking impulse from an European: You know, the people in Europe are not that crazy about celebrities as you are. Oprah was obviously shocked that she didn't get recognized. I am sure it is nothing about her roots or color of the skin and the sales person tried to explain in her few english words and as friendly as she could that the bag was VERY expensive (not in a bad or racist way). Bags in this price range are extremely expensive and rare, and us Europeans do not think as BIG as you do in the US…

  59. Alexandra.Euro says – reply to this


    59

    Re: Misty – I could not have it explained in a better way! I think it is poor as well! She was in EUROPE not in L.A. and if she would have donated all that money, she would have been better off. She will now probably have that bag she wanted delivered personally from Tom Ford as an apology and now she saves all that $$$….

  60. Dee Dee Heller says – reply to this


    60

    Just for the record,
    Oprah never buys retail
    She goes checks items out at upscale shops, than has her personnel shopper try to get the item for FREE, or at a hefty discount

  61. With Oprah says – reply to this


    61

    Oprah's credibility is pretty solid with me. If she said it smacked of racism, i have no reason not to believe her. If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, let's don't mince words, its a racist duck, dammit!

  62. emmy7 says – reply to this


    62

    Re: memyselfandi – Why is it racism? Where was colour mentioned?

  63. chillax62 says – reply to this


    63

    Re: Anuschka – oh please shut up! that girl should have done her job, which is "sell", not telling clients what to buy! that's just downright rude! for you to even pretend that it's ok to act like this shows you did not understand the issue in the first place !

  64. chillax62 says – reply to this


    64

    Re: Alexandra.Euro – you are speaking for yourself huh? and europe is a continent, not a country! so speak for yourself only and don't speak for other europeans! that's insulting!

  65. chillax62 says – reply to this


    65

    Re: Devynn – Well said ! kudos!

  66. Hugo Bentley says – reply to this


    66

    read the interview of Adriana N., the saleswoman at the zurich based store trois pommes. Trudie Goetz the owner is defending her employee. it looks like oprah needed a story to promote her movie the butler. you will get a different opinion about the hole story

  67. Barbara Ruiz says – reply to this


    67

    Why didn't Oprah insist on seeing the bag? She could have acted like a diva and insisted she could damn well buy it if she chose to. Why did she let a stupid shop girl have the last word? This one is on Oprah for not speaking up.

  68. realist says – reply to this


    68

    Re: CourtneySucks – Maybe you should check out what black folks are doing for white folks in their countries, oh that's right……nothing, us white folk bend over backwards for johnny foreigner, yet they are selfish, the reason being, because us WHITE WORKING CLASS EUROPEANS HAVE BEEN SLAVES LONGER THAN ANY AFRICAN…..FACT. Oprah talks of racism whilst working for the same system and rich folk who actually enslaved her so called people, she pays minnions to basically wipe her arse (just like an elitist), the womans an HYPOCRITE, like most ignorant, mainstream drones in these comments, seem to have a real chip on their shoulders about skin colour, and its not coming from white folk (unless you are a do-goody, keep with the crowd, type.

  69. realist says – reply to this


    69

    Re: rosetatoo – Makes you a loser too for worshipping an elitist who couldn't give two humps about you, more fool idiots like yourself. Amazed at how the mere fact that a disgusting rich western tart is paying the equivalent of a couple of working mens weekly wages combined, for a purse, that's the most pathetic thing about this latest childish racist outburst by Oprah.

  70. realist says – reply to this


    70

    Re: memyselfandi – I experience racism too, from black people, do I make a song and dance about it, no, would I get housed and looked after by black people if I were to go to their country?….NO I wouldn't, who's the real racists?. People are so quick to jump on the little man over non-existent claims of racism, yet Oprah's government is out committing genocide around the world and no-ones bothered? HYPOCRITES.

  71. realist says – reply to this


    71

    Re: goodtasteishardtofind – You need to get out more, take your head out of your arse and stop pandering to every race, but your own.

  72. realist says – reply to this


    72

    Re: DeVon Thomas – Re: DeVon Thomas – You would think that a woman claiming to be discriminated against, could put herself in the shoe's (so to speak) of the poor crocodile, but no, selfish Oprah can't see anything wrong with killing a living thing just so she can wear it to show off. Oprah is an HYPOCRITE of the highest order and the ones defending her should go and find some self respect instead of worshipping talentless talkshow hosts, who couldn't give a toss about them.

  73. realist says – reply to this


    73

    Re: chillax62 – The only racist in this whole pathetic saga, is Oprah. She lives and breaths like an elitist, she screams of racism whilst hording Millions of Dollars in her bank, whilst her people in Africa struggle to eat, she is an HYPOCRITE, she cries racism over the smallest benign thing and obviously doesn't like white folk, that much is clear. How does she sleep at night knowing that she embraces the same oppressive system that enslaved her people, milks it to the max, pays ridiculous amounts of cash for the skin of a dead reptile (probably fit like a second skin on her lol), whilst all the time African children are starving…….WOW WHAT AN HYPOCRITE OPRAH REALLY IS.

  74. realist says – reply to this


    74

    Re: realist – You need to get educated and stop worshipping the rich, who couldn't give a f**k about you or your family.

  75. realist says – reply to this


    75

    Re: chillax62 – Hording millions in the bank whilst children starve is a bigger moral issue, but I expect that to go over your ignorant little head, talk about know your place, go and find some SELF-RESPECT, stop worshipping the rich.

  76. realist says – reply to this


    76

    Re: BriBriBri4 – A Christian with hordes of millions in the bank, whilst African's and poor people in the USA starve and struggle, the womans a disgrace, an hypocrite and an elitist.