Oprah called ‘over-sensitive, absurd’ by Zurich boutique owner Trudi Goetz

At this point, I kind of want Oprah to go to Zurich, buy the Trois Pommes boutique, and burn it to the ground. I think everybody needs to take a breath and remember something: Oprah didn’t name names. When she was asked if she ever experienced racism, she told an offhand story about shopping in Zurich recently, and how an unnamed clerk was rude to her, telling Oprah that she “couldn’t afford” the $38,000 purse Oprah wanted to look at. That would have been the end of it, but the Swiss Tourism board decided to issue a statement apologizing to Oprah, and the people working at Trois Pommes haven’t shut up about the incident. Yesterday, we covered the shop girl’s take on the incident, where she claimed that Oprah is lying. Of course, the shopgirl also explained it this way:

“I explained to her the bags came in different sizes and materials, like I always do. She looked at a frame behind me. Far above there was the 35,000 Swiss franc crocodile leather bag. I simply told her that it was like the one I held in my hand, only much more expensive, and that I could show her similar bags.”

Which means to me that the girl did basically tell Oprah that she wasn’t going to let her see the more expensive bags, but she would show her the cheaper ones. Which means that Oprah was telling the truth. But now the shop owner, a woman named Trudi Goetz, is getting involved and she sounds like a real piece of work too:

The owner of the upscale Swiss boutique where Oprah Winfrey claimed she was barred from buying a $38,000 by a ‘racist’ sales assistant today demanded to speak to the star she branded ‘over-sensitive’ and insisted her employee did ‘everything right’. The rather fearsome-looking Trudi Goetz said she wanted to speak with the talk show billionairess ‘as soon as possible’ and also revealed her petrified member of staff will not be sacked or punished.

She said: ‘I don’t know why she talked of racism. I am sorry, but perhaps she is being a little over-sensitive here. Maybe she was somewhat offended because she was not immediately recognized in the store.’

Frau Goertz said today: ‘For God’s sake, no! I do not judge people according to their skin color, nor according to their income. I treat everyone equally. And I also expect my employees to do the same.’

MailOnline has learned that the saleslady in question is Italian, aged 37, and was not a full-time employee of the ritzy Trois Pommes shop in Zurich where the incident took place – but she was sent there from the sister-store in upscale St. Moritz to help out. Now it is unclear where she is as she lies low in fear of ‘public hatred’.

Goetz, who was ironically also a guest at the wedding of Tina Turner – the reason why Oprah was in the country, has been left to speak for her.

‘It’s absurd,’ she said. ‘Oprah came into the business, wanted to see the crocodile bag. She inquired about the price. When my saleswoman told her that it cost 35,000 francs and then offered to show her cheaper ones, she walked away. And in a possible slap to Oprah’s diva tendencies, she added: ‘That is something that international stars appreciate in our country – that you leave them in peace.’

Ms. Goetz, who regularly features in the society pages of Swiss newspapers and magazines, said that there will be ‘no repercussions’ for her employee – an Italian woman who worked for five years in a boutique in Milan before joining her.

She went on: ‘She did everything right. I can’t blame her. She has been working for five years with me and is an excellent seller. She usually works in St. Moritz where there is a MOST demanding clientele. She is so very sensitive. I repeat once again; my saleslady only meant well because she wanted to show other bags to Oprah. To demonstrate the whole range is, for me, a perfect service. I find it regrettable that Oprah has come to this service from exactly the wrong way. I saw Oprah at Tina’s wedding but I only knew her from TV. We didn`t speak, and now unfortunately since then, this is played out before the entire world. I hope the business will not suffer as a result of this. I hope I can speak with Oprah to resolve the situation personally, as quickly as possible.’

Oprah said at the LA premiere of her film, ‘I’m in a store and the person doesn’t obviously know that I carry the black card and so they make an assessment based upon the way I look and who I am… I didn’t have anything that said “I have money”: I wasn’t wearing a diamond stud. I didn’t have a pocketbook. I didn’t wear Louboutin shoes. I didn’t have anything. You should be able to go in a store looking like whatever you look like and say “I’d like to see this”. That didn’t happen.’

Swiss tourism officials and the boutique owner apologized for the incident last week, but Winfrey insists there’s no need.

‘It’s not an indictment against the country or even that store,’ she continued. ‘It was just one person who didn’t want to offer me the opportunity to see the bag. So no apologies necessary from the country of Switzerland. If somebody makes a mistake in the United States do we apologize in front of the whole country? No!’

[From The Mail]

Again, if you muddle through this woman’s hissy fit, you’ll notice that she basically admits that Oprah’s story is correct – “Oprah came into the business, wanted to see the crocodile bag. She inquired about the price. When my saleswoman told her that it cost 35,000 francs and then offered to show her cheaper ones, she walked away.” Oprah asked to see the expensive purse and the shop girl wouldn’t let her see it, offering to show Oprah the cheaper purses. Just like Oprah said. Sounds like Oprah wasn’t being “over-sensitive” as much as she was “correctly reading the attitude of the room and disengaging from the situation.”

Photos courtesy of WENN.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

362 Responses to “Oprah called ‘over-sensitive, absurd’ by Zurich boutique owner Trudi Goetz”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Dawn says:

    Geez this is turning into the never-ending-story. The owner has a right to believe what she believes as does Ophra who never wanted to make a big deal out of this anyway or so she said. If the filthy rich want to stop buying at her store then the punishment will be enough but I have a feeling that will not happen.

    • Chinoiserie says:

      Agreed. Oprah has no proof so the owner has a right to pick what she feels is the truth. And btw did the store out itself or was it a newspaper?

      • bluecalling says:

        the store outed itself.

        and oprah was telling the truth about the actual events. now how she perceived it, is her right and business.

        that is the thing with most racism today. the other person does not know they are doing it or being hurtful, you cannot point any particular thing out to them or say hey, you’re being hurtful because most people get defensive, it is just a feeling you get as a human being and she did right and said: nope, that b!tch, whether based on race, sex, size, or snobbery does not get this fat black woman billionaire’s money’.

        two cheers for oprah

      • MCraw says:

        Oh my God. It doesn’t MATTER what proof Oprah has! The shop owner and saleswoman HERSELF said that she tried to show Oprah other, cheaper bags and not the one she requested. No matter what, the retail industry is a service industry- you serve the customer what they want. Period. Otherwise “misunderstandings” like THIS happens. What is so hard to get?

        The fact that people are trying to be “understanding” to the saleswoman and not Oprah is alarming and revealing. Yes, white people have gone through this in Europe and blame it on snobbery. But blacks/browns/yellows across the world have dealt with racism for hundreds of years in recent history. So blame the black woman for being “over-sensitive” in a world that taught her she is less-than? F-ck off! I hope her shop closes now. She drew attention to herself and this defense is a losing one- especially because it falls in line with what Oprah said.

        *rant over*

      • Xera345 says:

        @ MCraw – It’s Europe, not the US, try to understand culture differences, sales people don’t jump at a client’s wish here like they do in the US, in the same manner that people in restaurants or hotels don’t bend over or expect tips at every turn. It’s perfectly reasonable here that a sales girl would show a smaller similar item within reach first rather than climb up and open a glass display to show a bigger version of a bag. It’s not a firing offense here, in fact there are work tribunals that would condemn the employer if someone was fired over such a thing. Different continent, different culture

      • Kcaia says:

        Mcraw, I agree that Oprah and the owner are just giving the same version of events with a different interpretation, and don’t take what Im about to say as saying racism doesn’t exist, bc I know it does, but I think in the case of a $38k purse, it may have to do with what she’s wearing. And I say that bc I live in one of the wealthiest counties in America, but I have been personally followed through Nordstroms and Macys(same day, same mall) for basically shopping while looking plain, jeans and a t shirt, and Im white. In fact, out here there are several Nordstroms, and several years ago they used to have a huge theft problem., bc they would take any item returned without a receipt and give you back cash for it, and Im talking several thousand dollar minks returned for cash. I had a friend, who was black, thatw part of their undercover loss prevention team. It was her and a bunchof white men. She told me about this young black girl that had a career of stealing from Nordstroms, and jacked hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise for about a year, and was very successful for so long mainly bc she dressed like a Nordstroms customer, so she was left alone for a very long time, until one of the Lp was helping at another, distant store, and recognized her. I’m just saying we all know your appearance can come into account with how you’re treated, but on the other hand, whether O was dripping in diamonds or not, I doubt she looked rough, so its likely to do with her race, but who knows? It might be so rare they sell one of those purses that the saleslady was tired of wasting time showing it to customers. I think either way, they should just apologize at least for a misinterpretation and just stop talking about it.

      • MCraw says:

        Please don’t give me the “This is Europe, not America- it’s different” angle. America became what it is-slavery included- because of Europeans settling here. Today, the xenophobia across Europe is something that makes headlines in current events. Most recently riots in France by people in Middle eastern communities. When I was in Ireland, it was Africans being denied citizenship in the UK because they wanted to “keep London white.” Certain countries not being allowed into the EU for anti-Muslim sentiments…. And that’s just off the top of my head.

        Again, the retail industry IS a service industry. Just because certain places have attitudes about it doesn’t mean what they are supposed to provide is a service. Most people who do hateful things- be it by race, class, dress, whatever- don’t like to be labeled or called out that way. The point is, they were the perpetrators of an attitude (whatever that attitude was motivated by) towards a certain woman. That woman happened to be Oprah. And Oprah, because of her personal history, read it in a racial way. That is not her fault. Whatever their reasoning, actions like this are offensive because you never know how someone will perceive it. Especially when they’re the one you’re doing it to.

      • Xera345 says:

        @ MCraw There seems to be a great level of confusion at the top of your head, if I follow your (not very coherent, you must admit it) “thought” process, European and American cultures are perfectly similar because there were Europeans settlers in the US? Oh dear…

      • Kcaia says:

        Xera, you don’t have to be rude, she did list current examples, and was pretty on point about that in todays world you do have to be careful about offending others whether its ones intention or not. And that’s bc stereotypes, discrimation and racism still do exist, and it will always be a problem until race no longer matters.

      • Xera345 says:

        @ Kcaia well I had to point out MCraw’s incoherent line of thought (if you can call it that way), the fact is that if racism exists everywhere in Western countries it is the perception of people social standing associated with race that causes dismissive attitudes, people identified as wealthy are usually excempt from such treatment, that’s why I point out that in this case, as the sales girl said she noticed the bodyguard, it is extremely unlikely that she would have been tempted to slight the costumer she had identified as sufficiently wealthy to need/afford security

      • Kim says:

        @Xera345, if the sales clerks aren’t expected to open the case and show the $38K bags, then they may as well just say, “Oh, those bags aren’t for sale. Those are our museum pieces.”

        It is a store – if they want to actually sell the bag, they’d better show it when someone asks to see it.

      • MCraw says:

        Xera- if you want to be condescending and say I’m being incoherent, considering your lack of proper grammar and comma usage, I’m laughing that off.

        But here you say “the fact is if racism exists everywhere in western countries IT IS THE PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE SOCIAL STANDING ASSOCIATED WITH RACE”

        So… We are in agreement in that the clerk was wrong in her perception of Oprah’s social standing based on her race, thus not showing her a purse she wanted.

        Don’t attack me and my communication capabilities when you can’t even recognize that you agree with what I’m saying.

        Ok ladies, I’m peacing out on this one. ✌😎

      • Xera says:

        @ MCraw
        English being my third language I don’t aim for grammatical perfection, I content myself with informed and coherent arguments that can be understood by all, which is more than can be say of your prose. That’s why I’m saddened to observe that you completely missed the point I’ve made repeatedly, which is that the presence of the bodyguard – identified as such by the salesgirl – guarantees that there was no social slight in this case

      • irishserra says:

        @bluecalling: I’m not sure I quite understand your point about racism. I find it difficult to subscribe to the idea that one can be “racist” and not realize it. Either you have a problem with another race or you don’t. A European saleswoman for high-end merchandise (culturally known to be aloof) brushing off a woman who happens to be black is not necessarily racism. This issue was run into the ground on this site yesterday, but it is quite possible we are looking at a host of other just-as-ridiculous reasons for not immediately showing Oprah the bag when she asked about it.

      • Missy says:

        @irishseera

        Try reading this article: http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20130804_Some_of_your_best_friends_are_racists.html

        The article talks about how we are socially conditioned to see white at the top of the racia l hierarchy. i think thats what blue meant about being a racist and not knowing it. I’m getting a little tired of arguing about this and so I direct you to the article

      • MMTMB says:

        I agree. Like get over it already, I spend half my life in switzerland because I go to Grad school there, and believe me – they really DONT care who you are. Not to mention, it is a country FULL of cultures, so its not like they’re not used to it.
        And frankly speaking, no one said she REFUSED to show the bag, she very clearly said she was showing all the options, perhaps she was merely trying to tell her that she SHOULDNT spend that much money on a bag that wasn’t worth it and that she had other options that were just as good. Why does everyone automatically assume she was being racist. Geez Louise.

      • Meanchick says:

        Spoken like a true apologist. “Proof”? Really? Oprah spoke about it, the owner supported it, whether you want to believe it or not. Too many times it’s labeled a ‘misunderstanding’ or the other person is being ‘too sensitive.’ Why do we have to prove we’ve been treated unfairly? As if our words and feelings are not enough?

    • Stanhope says:

      You are a fool

  2. Leah says:

    Ugh this woman is seriously stupid and condescending. She is just stoking the fire now. Its ironic that she acts like she is worried about business when she is the one who outed the store in the media.

    • Mirna says:

      And I find it hysterical that she now wants a personal meeting with Oprah. She outed herself, her store and her racist/condescending staff. All of a sudden now, SHE is the victim.

      • Sabrine says:

        Exactly, and a meeting is a totally ridiculous idea. She’s just going to spew her excuses in person none of which will make any sense. Boutiques sell products; that’s all they do. A customer wants to see something for sale; you show it to them. Why would you try and show them something they didn’t want to see?

        At any rate, I think Oprah just wants this to be over. She said there’s no way she should have paid $38 K for a bag anyway. Time to let this story fade away.

    • judyjudyjudy says:

      yeah, cause no one there could have figured out what store it was – a boutique near the hotel that sells high end bags like a 38 k one. Yeah, no one would have guessed it was hers.

      d’uh.

      • Meanchick says:

        People finding out on their own or guessing does not equate to Oprah naming the store. D’uh.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        @meanchick

        nice try honey.

        the people who live there dont need to guess – they would know.

        d’uh.

        lol. I could go on like this – like shooting dead fish in a barrel.

  3. Liv says:

    I wasn’t there, so I can’t say for sure if it was rascism or not, but I don’t get why many don’t even consider that it could also have been a misunderstanding. What if they sales women doesn’t speak english properly? Or was just rude, not racist?

    I’m not saying that it wasn’t rascism, I’m just surprised that many think this is a clear case.

    • momoftwo says:

      A misunderstanding is always a possibility. But if you are a person of color (i’m including all shades of brown) and you are discriminated against, I can’t explain it, but you know it.

      There is a vibe you get. And of course I myself have second guessed myself saying in the middle of a “racist” incident saying “No…they couldn’t possibly be acting this way”. So you wait, try again and when it continues you have a pretty good idea you were right.

      My sis and daugther were just in a store buying cowboy boots (we are Indian) and the salespeople totally ignored them. Then a white family came in, they asked them if they needed help, helped them and when they left, STILL didn’t even ask my sister once if she needed anything (though they were in the same area).

      There is a different feeling between being overlooked and purposefully ignored.

      I am thankful I have had very few experiences like that!!!

      • Liv says:

        This is a shame and it still happens too often today – I mean it’s 2013. One can expect that people are educated enough to know better in these days.

        I’m just not that sure if this is what happened here. Many stated that they were treated the same in shops and are white. Maybe the sales woman was racist, maybe it happens to all of us. Like I said, we all weren’t there so it’s hard to say.

      • Earth to Kelly says:

        When I first heard the story, I took it at face value that it was racial discrimination. However, the more I hear about it, the less sure I am of this being a racial discrimination case, and more of just plain snotty service on the store’s part, and a “don’t you know who I am” mentality on Oprah’s.

        I have a Native American background, and some of my native family members are quick to point out and jump on even the smallest perceived slight or look as racism and judgment, when its not always the case. It drives me nuts. I can usually tell when someone is judging me based on my background and when someone is just being a bitch, but I suppose its all perception.

        The Italian clerk supposedly didn’t think she was doing anything wrong; Oprah took it as racial discrimination. Unless we know what was truly said, I am finding it hard to call this a case of outright racism. And yes, Oprah didn’t name the store, but she could have said it was a small obscure village in Russia, and everyone knows the village would have been named the next morning.

      • gg says:

        I’m with those that have experienced snootiness from stores just by virtue of “we’re special, we’re so expensive it’s offensive, and we are snotty and that’s how it is, deal with it”. I’ve gotten the bum’s rush when I wasn’t dressed up “enough” from fancy stores in Europe and across the US, and I’m white.

        I thought it was a well-known GIVEN that overpriced boutiques do this to everybody. And God forbid you touch the merchandise with your hands in France. I’ve even been treated horribly in flippin Liverpool. Sales people get bugs up their azzes and get stroppy and you can’t control that. I take it for what it is.

      • irishserra says:

        @momoftwo: I think it’s horrible that does still happen today, but I really don’t think anyone has the ability to “just know” when they are facing discrimination.

        In my previous employment as an HR manager, it was so frustrating because I would have to handle “discipline” at work all day long. I could have read reprimands to 12 people but every single one of color (any color) without fail tossed the accusation that they were being singled out (by me!) for their race. There wasn’t enough tact or compassion in the world to convince these individuals that despite there being proof of their theft, habitually arriving late to work, etc. that I was talking to them because of their work conduct. It can be so frustrating!

    • Malificent says:

      It may have also been a case of plain economic bias. As Oprah pointed out, she was’t dressed in a way that suggested her wealth. I’m sure she was very nicely dressed, but not to the level of snobbery expected at such a boutique.

      I’m white, and I’ve still had occasions to deal with snobby sales clerks. I’ve always looked young for my age, and looked like a teenager well into my 30s. I’ve seen shop ladies practically dive to protect their jewelry and makeup when I’ve walked through upscale department stores in jeans and a T-shirt. If I was dressed in a business suit — it was entirely another matter.

      I always found it ironic that I could go from potential shoplifter to valued customer in the change of an outfit and the flash of a credit card.

      • gg says:

        Same here! It’s ridiculous.

      • Mirna says:

        I think people know when they are being discriminated against. I’ve been in expensive suits, carrying a $1,000+ bag (I’m an attorney and used to go to court a lot, hence the suits) and still followed around stores.

    • Meredith says:

      I’ve known Canadians who have travelled and lived in Europe. If some people there think you are American, they will give you all kinds of grief – bad service, no service, etc. Everybody loves to hate Americans. But if you can show you’re Canadian (and I’m also talking Americans with some Canadian flags on their luggage), then you get good service and people apologize for thinking you were Americans. So maybe Oprah got grief because she was perceived (correctly) as a very rich American. And no, that’s not fair either.

      • gg says:

        I hve done this and I know people who intentionally have a maple leaf on their backpacks just to avoid being treated badly in Europe. It’s an old trick that works.

    • Sabrine says:

      How hard is it to understand a pointing finger? One that’s pointing to a specific bag a little higher up on the shelf….even a caveman could understand that.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        I know this may come as a shock, but no store is under any obligation to show someone anything. They had one of the bags, they sell maybe 1 or 2 like this a year, and she was probably mindful of preventing anything from happening to it.
        She may not have been saying, you cant afford the 38k bag, but that it was an expensive bag and she couldnt just take it down that easily for anyone who asked. That makes total sense to me whatever the color of the customer.

  4. Sixer says:

    Well, it does make a change for it not to be Oprah being the one who takes things out of all proportion.

    It’s a silly, snobby shop taking umbrage at having its snobbiness shamed. As if we didn’t already know these places are silly and snobby (and that their snobbiness is tinged with racism, fattism, classism and every other ism you can think of). It’s just a move along please, nothing new to see here issue.

  5. DawnOfDagon says:

    Can this subject die a death already? Rich woman didn’t get what she wanted. Boo.

    • Allie says:

      I love everything about this.

    • Marjalane says:

      Exactly. I imagine that someone with as big an ego as Oprah’s got, expects to be treated like a Queen wherever she goes.

      • Jan says:

        I am sure Oprah feels that everyone in the whole wide world should know who she is. I just wish she would get rid of the big Afro for it makes her look twice as fat.

      • Dredz says:

        I really can’t stand Oprah’s arrogance. In Asia where I live, majority of people wouldn’t know who she is. Oprah needs to get over herself, she’s just drumming up publicity for that movie.

    • BlackMamba says:

      Or snobby salesperson was being an a** for whatever reason. Next.

      • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

        Oh, but no, it’s okay because she’s fat, remember? I don’t know what the woman has done to people to make them actively happy when stuff like this happens, but it must’ve been a big and personal doozy.

    • PippyCoCo says:

      I so agree. I don’t tell me Oprah didn’t know what would happen when she decided to speak about the incident. She knew people would investigate & the shop’s name would eventually be found out one way or the other.

    • Mirna says:

      To Jan, Oprah has an afro because SHE’S BLACK. That’s the hair that grows out of her head. Of all the things to take issue with, that you single out her hair and say she can’t wear it because she’s fat is a bit ridiculous. I wonder what you look like.

  6. Steph says:

    “At this point, I kind of want Oprah to go to Zurich, buy the Trois Pommes boutique, and burn it to the ground.”

    So this. They are embarrassed bc they did that to someone who can actually tell the world how they treat people. They likely do this all the time to people who don’t “look” like they have money. I can tell you that I have experienced the same poor attitude bc often times ill go to the mall in yoga pants and a tee, clean face without makeup, etc. I just feel that if I want to see something, I want to see it. If I ask you the price then I want to know the price. A salespersons job is to do just that. Show the pieces and answer questions.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      +2
      We all know what happened, Trudi. Just shut up.

    • V4Real says:

      +3 I said something similar on yesterday’s post.

      Tell me what store wants to make less money by showing a customer a cheaper version of a purse. If a potential buyer wants to see a specific bag the clerk should have shown it to them and if the customer says it’s too expensive then the clerk should try to accomodate the customer by showing them what they believe might be a more affordable price. Like I said that woman had her mind made up about O as soon as she came through those doors. Now they are trying to save face because it’s international news (which is sad) and they look like racist asses.

      • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

        I asked that a few days ago when all of the ‘maybe she was trying to save her money’ responses showed up. Since when are you running a Salvation Army? Get that money!

    • Xera345 says:

      They can be extremely embarassed to be accused of being racists when they aren’t. Knowing that Oprah showed up with a bodyguard it’s unlikely that the salesgirl would have behaved dismissively towards her, from the way the girl was saying that the bag was way up in a box it rather sounds like she tried to save herself the bother to get it by showing something under reach. Just like the Hermes story, it’s a case of Oprah throwing racist accusation when European sales people don’t jump high enough for her.

      • V4Real says:

        Maybe when I hear of a White Celebrity being treated like O I might be more incline to believe the color of O’s skin had no part in this.

        Maybe when I hear of a White celebrity getting frisked after leaving a deli like Forest Whitaker I might be more incline to believe the color of his skin has nothing to do with it.

        Maybe when I hear of a White celebrity not being able to get a cab like Danny Glover but watched as cabs stopped for Blacks then I might be more incline to believe the color of his skin had nothing to do with it.

        Until then feel free to continue to make excuses for discrimitive people if it makes you sleep better at night.

      • Xera345 says:

        The difference between Oprah’s and Withaker’s situation is that Withaker’s was categorised as poor and therefore suspicious because of his race (that’s racism) while Oprah’s escorted by her bodyguard was identified as being at the top of the foodchain, that makes her hypothesis of racial discrimination in a very high end shop in an international city even more than extremely unlikely, while the fact that the bag was out of reach and it was easier for the sales girl to show her a similar smaller item first is very plausilbe.
        It’s even more likely when we know that Oprah cried racism precedently when Hermes sales peple in Paris didn’t let her in after the shop closed (that’s normal in Paris) even though she was treated as a privileged costume and given the sales manager card to fix a personal appointment. Oprah exposed her own prejudices presuming that french people couldn’t distinguish between blacks and north African (!) and supposing she was refused entry because the sale people would have thought she was North African (which accoding to Oprah are refused entry in french shops); She showed herself as the bigot there

      • V4Real says:

        I disagree; bodyguard in tow should have given tha sales clerk so kind of indication that this woman he was escorting must have wealth. Instead this clerk acted in a discrimitive way because she saw a Black(plus size woman as some of you apologists have stated) woman and stereotyped her in a very discrimitive way. It was habit for her because as some of you have stated it was what they have been trained to do. It’s the Snobby European way as some of you have said over and over. No matter how you dress it up that is a form of racism.

        But like I said believe discrimination played no part if it helps you sleep better at night.

      • Xera345 says:

        @ V4real The sales girl said she noticed the bodyguard and guessed it was a wealthy customer, there’s no reason to doubt her, in those high end shops they know how to gauge their clients. If you want to believe against all odds that it was a case of social/racial discrimination it says that you wish it was a case of bigotry. What do you think that says about you?

      • V4Real says:

        The sales girl also changed her story while O’s remained the same. Right there she lost credibility; though you want to take this clerk word as prayer. But please go ahead and condone this type of behavior and tell me what does that say about you. The same can be said that you want to be an apologist for a discrimitive woman because you believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was not discrimitive.

      • Xera345 says:

        If you want to believe that a salesgirl in a high end shop would slight an obviously wealthy customer accompanied by a bodyguard you haven’t learn much about the ways of the world, it’s more about you personal hang-ups than reality

      • V4Real says:

        “If you want to believe that a salesgirl in a high end shop would slight an obviously wealthy customer accompanied by a bodyguard you haven’t learn much about the ways of the world, it’s more about you personal hang-ups than reality.”

        Apparantly I know enough about the world to say she did exactly what you said; she slighted her. Honey please take off your rose colored glasses and see the world for what it is. Get out of your little bubble and realize that racism does exist. Racism and discrimination is not all about words, it’s about a certain look from a person, a gesture or reaction.

        Now before you go telling me I have personal hang-ups let’s get this straight. I am a Black woman with friends from various races. My best friend is Chinese, my close friends are Brazilian,, Irish, British, Black American, Puerto Rican, Italian, Jamaican, Pilipino, German ancestry and Jewish. My boyfriend is of Italian and Nordic descent. I move in all kinds of circle of people. Can you honestly say that? If anyone is dealing with any kind of personal hang-ups it’s you by claiming Euro/American cultural differences. I just call a spade a spade. If it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, it’s a duck.

        If O felt like she was being discriminated against she probably had a damn good reason and who are you to tell her she was not treated unfairly due to the way she looks. Who are you to tell a woman who grew up in the storm of racism that she wasn’t discriminated against. She lived it and you probably never have. Neither of us was there and can’t say with 100% certaintiy that it was or was not racist but the signs seems to point more in O’s defense. O was not even being defensive about it, it was the shop owner and sales clerk high on defense which is some times a dead give away of guilt.

      • gg says:

        “Neither of us was there and can’t say with 100% certaintiy [s.i.c.] that it was or was not racist”

        Exactly. No need to force your opinion. Just an opinion.

      • V4Real says:

        @gg I can appreciate what you’re trying to do; no harm in that. I will just add I wasn’t forcing my opinion on anyone, I just responded to a person who wanted to share their opinion as well.

      • gg says:

        Fair enough, I appreciate your insight. I feel like we all need to put on each other’s shoes every once in awhile to try to understand things. It’s the only way to effect positive change.

        As far as this shop (and hopefully other retailers) is concerned, maybe sales people in general might use this as a step-back and check yourself before you treat anyone badly moment. Because it might be perceived quite strongly in a direction they really don’t want. I think we can all agree on that.

        And as to positivity, I am fully aware of the site I am on, for future commenters. lol

  7. MissBB says:

    Goetz: “to demonstrate the whole range, is for me, a perfect service.”

    That also means demonstrating her the most expensive one!

    • stinky says:

      Well … lets say for example, you were showing a customer a variety of bags, yet they were dismissive, instead only fixing their gaze upon the one & only insanely expensive one that was locked away…
      i’m not trying to defend racism, and i dont think other commenters here are either. i’m saying there’s MANY facets to this little one-act-play – maybe O acted so uninterested in the ones she WAS being shown, the clerk presumed she really WAS just browsing. WHO KNOWS. I feel a Saturday Night Live skit coming on – for real!

  8. Sabrine says:

    Can we move on from this already? It’s at the point of overkill now and particularly annoying with the two different stories coming from each person.

  9. RocketMerry says:

    Yeah, I’ll repeat it: there are some snobbish stores over here in Europe (and I’m pretty sure over there in the US too) where, no matter your race or ethnicity, if you don’t look like money, you don’t get to see the items. Furthermore, this kind of behaviour only ADDS to their appeal for their snobbish clientèle.

    I usually get away with seeing/trying on pricey items by being super nice and smiley and cute and admitting I just want to see and could never buy.

    So, yeah, snobbish store; big deal.

    • Janice says:

      You can NOT have a conversation about classism while disregarding Race.

      In the West, the darker your pigment, the lower down the pyramid you are (or so it is assumed)

      For all of you keying up your “I am white and I get treated shady too” tales, please spare us. Rather explain to us what indicators these “mere Snobs” use to gauge who is who? Try and convince those of us with a brain that RACE is not a key determinant on how “mere snobs” behave.

      • Helena says:

        I so agree with you Janice. It leaves me speechless how people here refuse to admit that race has anything to do with this incident. I am white and I’m sure that race had everything to do in this situation,especially because the shop assistant did not recognize Oprah.

      • Steph says:

        Yep. I am half-Mexican and I look it. Sometimes I feel I get treated differently bc I look Hispanic. It sucks and it makes you feel like a second class citizen.

      • AlmondJoy says:

        @Janice THANK YOU so very much. The comments in the previous Oprah threads have been nothing short of appalling.

      • endoplasmic_ridiculum says:

        Nope – not a race thing. It’s a nationality thing. Huge difference. There are lots of wealthy Nigerians, Kuwaitis, Qataris, Indians, Singaporeans etc etc. They are of ALL racial backgrounds. they get excellent service. Salespeople fawning over them, ignoring white customers. So to say it’s JUST racist is to oversimplify things.

        It’s a money thing. Sometimes race ties in with the assessment of money – but there are other factors such as nationality, entourage, aesthetic appearances etc.

        At the end of the day, there’s no excuse for the snotty treatment some of these stores mete out. But I assure you – to deal the race card as the SOLE factor is to do a MAJOR DISSERVICE to people fighting for general standards of decency.

        People have been ignored for being fat, old, eccentric, having the wrong accent (ie hello England!) even being too white and chavy in the wrong country (anyone living in the Emirates on this board)?

        Oprah probably sensed a dismissal from the saleslady – but it’s not unique to her as a black woman.

        You shop in the luxury fashion shops – you’re agreeing to play by their elitist, unspoken rules. You will get burned sometime.

      • MegG says:

        Janice- I’ve experienced racisim for being white, so I don’t know what you’re talking about. Eg White trash, skippy shit etc. I always get told in summer I’m “too pale” and “why don’t you tan?” As if only tanned people live in Australia. I always get told to change my skin colour. But somehow this is ok?

      • MegG says:

        Janice- I’ve experienced racisim for being white, so I don’t know why you think otherwise. I always get told to change my skin colour. But somehow this is ok because I’m white? I don’t know why you can only be tanned/ black to live in OZ?

      • MegG says:

        Janice- I’ve experienced racisim for being white, so I don’t know why you think otherwise. I always get told to change my skin colour. But somehow this is ok because I’m white?

      • RocketMerry says:

        @endoplasmic_ridiculum, agreed, perfectly said.

        I wish people would read carefully before jumping up in arms: I did not say that there is NEVER an issue of racism when shopping; I’m saying that in “elite” stores, race is often not remotely as much a big issue as STATUS.

      • Missy says:

        @MegG: white people who have tan/olive skin are still white. White people don’t tan to look more like black people, they tan bc the preference is for tanned sun-kissed skin, the preference is not for black skin regardless of how much white people tan. People telling you to tan, is not people telling you to become black to be accepted. Why don’t you get that? I thought white people tanned bc it makes them look thinner, adds to muscle definition, makes them look healthier, more beautiful. So that’s what they’re telling you both eyre not telling you to that you’d look better if you were a black person. Since race is more than just skin color, it has to do w hair, facial features… Asking you to change your skin color a shade or two to a darker version of white is not asking you to change your race.

      • Xera345 says:

        I don’t believe it’s a question of racism or status as the salesgirl said she noticed the bodyguard accompanying her – that’s a definite status marker – as the girl mentionned the bag was “very high up, in a box” it’s much more likely that she really tried to show something similar within her reach first.

      • Lucia says:

        RocketMerry and co
        Are you being deliberately obstinate or is this sincere failure to grasp? Or more likely its a case of white privillege blinding people to the pain of the Other.

        How is STATUS judged from first impressions? Is it not from a combination things that often begin with skin color?

        I have a caucasian complection but my cousins do not. And while I have been treated badly, its been nowhere near as bad as what they get.

      • stinky says:

        wait a minute.. ya lost me… the white girls who are sharing that they too have been treated like poo when shopping somewhere are telling you just that – it happens. and it happens to white people. i think the message being “its not ALWAYS about color”. repeat – its not always about color. No one has defended racism (yet). I’ve been scouring the threads and no ones defending racism. Suggesting that O has a chip on her shoulder does not equate to suggesting that racism is ok. (im an O fan, btw, so please don’t misinterpret me either!)

      • Nymeria says:

        So you’re freaking out about racism, but you are using a racist argument to support your argument against racism.

        This trend of labelling all white people as privileged assholes and all nonwhite people as injured victims is vile. It is close-minded. It is contradictory, as the same agenda pushing for an end to sweeping generalizations is using sweeping generalizations to discuss race and classism.

        But why think about things logically? It’s so much easier to just emote. To hell with critical thinking skills! They get in the way of our emotions!

      • MaiGirl says:

        Completely agree, Janice. Why is it so hard to believe that someone who has experienced racism before can recognize it when she experiences it again? Isn’t it awfully convenient that people who have never experienced racism are denying that it applies in this situation? I’m not saying that Caucasians have not experienced prejudice or bias, but there is simply not the institutional or societal power behind POC to call it racism. Oprah, and other POC who have experienced this type of microaggressive racism have a sense of what it feels like, and if you haven’t experienced it, you just DON’T KNOW! Please, give those of us who have experienced this type of discrimination the benefit of the doubt. There is no reason to go “fishing” for racism. If anything, your first impulse is to deny it, because it is depressing and exhausting to deal with!

      • Xera345 says:

        @ MaiGirl

        Oprah has previously demonstrated in similar circumstances (aka in a European High end shop when sales people didn’t jump high enough at her command) that her racism detector is seriously out of whack. She cannot distinguish between normal European service and a racist slight, she has no notion of differences of business culture between Europe and the US, and has demonstrated her own bigotry explaining her expectation of racial pejudice in French shops

      • MaiGirl says:

        @Xera: No, that’s not exactly true. That other incident had to do with the fact that high-end shops do indeed re-open for rich clients, and refused to do so for her. While it may be something of a gray area, since it is up to the store’s management to decide whether or not to open, there was a reasonable expectation that they would open for her, and they did not. I’ve never said that it was only racism, since classism is so closely tied to race in some people’s minds, but I don’t doubt that racism has something to do with it. Oprah knows enough not to cry racism willy-nilly, since many people don’t even believe it exists anymore and everyone needs to “get over it.”

      • littlestar says:

        @endoplasmic_ridiculum – you’ve said it the best. Definitely first and foremost a nationality thing, which is then turns into a socioeconomic thing, which then turns into a racism thing.

        I don’t feel like I have anything to add to this discussion, you all are hashing it out pretty well on here, but I do think it has a bit to do with snotty salespeople as well. So many service people need to be taught better people/customer skills!

    • minime says:

      +1000

      In Europe, even in a store where minimum prices are at the range of H&M’s highest, you already have that snob behavior…very wrong, but it’s everywhere.
      Of course unfortunately there is also racism everywhere(although I have the impression that WAY less than in the USA). Still, using this as a racism story doesn’t really fit in the reality that many of us live. And as much as some people don’t want to hear about it (because apparently only some kind of discrimination can be talked of), almost everyone has a story to tell about snobbish exclusion, independent of their color. Everytime I go with my blond, blue eyed boyfriend to Hugo Boss I never get a person to help us, just because we look like poor students. Just same old snobbish behavior. It would be nicer if she would also have opened the door to that discussion in her comments.

  10. Sherry says:

    I don’t think this was racism. It sounds more like a lazy shop person not wanting to go through the hassle of getting down the more expensive bag.

    The thought, “This woman can’t afford a $35,000 bag and I don’t feel like getting it down just so she can look at it” probably crossed her mind.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      @Sherry
      She looked at Oprah and decided she couldn’t afford the bag. She based that decision on something. I think it was at least partly that she was black.
      @Toto
      Can someone speak on how painful it would be to lose a child even though they have never lost one? How sad it would be to see their house burn to the ground even though that has never happened? Some people are more sensitive than others, and some people are deliberately blind to things that make them uncomfortable, or that they haven’t experienced first hand, like racism. Please don’t lump us all into one category.

      • emmie_a says:

        Really? You were there? You know exactly what the saleswoman was thinking? Amazing!

        I agree with Sherry. The woman was lazy and didn’t want to get the bag down. Oprah wanted to believe she was a victim of racism.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        No, emmie_a, I wasn’t there, and neither were you. I could turn all of your unpleasant, sarcastic remarks right around. How do YOU know what the saleswoman was thinking? Amazing!

        Why are you so insistent that racism wasn’t part of her assessment of the situation? Do you think she didn’t notice that Oprah was black? All I said was that she sized Oprah up and decided she wasn’t worth the trouble of getting down the bag. I think it’s interesting that you will not admit that racism could have possibly played a part in that assessment.

        We are both getting our information third hand. We are both entitled to our opinions. I think being dismissive and rude is uncalled for.

    • Trisha says:

      Sherry,

      The employers response suggests an institutionalised prejudice. An employee who didnt want the “hustle” of showing that bag would have been sacked! They are clearly trained to assess the customer and since Oprah is black and plump, she failed.

      I hate when people go into over drive to defend the most horrible crap. It suggests to me that these ARE the people who commit said horrible crap. Bigots have internet too I guess.

      • Xera345 says:

        It’s Europe, not the US, sales people don’t jump as fast for a few bucks. The sales girl knew she was wealthy as she said she noticed the bodyguard. And in Europe it’s not a firing offense not to climb all over the store at a client fist sign of interest, it’s not unreasonable to show a smaller similar item to give the client a first closer look. Last month I wanted to try some trousers in a shop and the last one left in my size was used on display, the sales girl asked me to try an other size first to see if it didn’t fit rather than change her display immediately, I was fine with it…but then I didn’t expect to be slighted, some people expect other to be bigots

      • Rooski says:

        No. Don’t listen to Xera345, who is excusing it as a cultural difference.

        I spent time working for celebrities in Europe. I’ve been to stores in Paris, London, Zurich, Berlin, Milan, and Barcelona to name a few.

        Parisian stores would absolutely shut down for this woman (who shall not be named). Carts from the back were wheeled out for her. She was doted on.

        Casual shopping in Zurich also found her with salesladies fawning over her. Did she need something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Did she need this tailored by the afternoon? No problem.

        Not to mention, the Swiss are incredibly racist, insular people. I won’t even tell you the un-rated story about a bunch of university educated 20-somethings in Zurich thought was appropriate to do to a lone person of African heritage walking down the road, minding their own business. It was despicable and made me nauseous. Everyone thought it was funny though. Even the ‘educated’.

        I would absolutely believe the Swiss would be racist in a shop. Are you kidding? They’re racist everywhere else. They’ve put in apartheid zones in some towns so asylum seekers (read, mostly African and Asians) can’t use public pools, libraries, or parks.

        So yeah, Calling bullshit on the “we just don’t jump for clientèle” argument. I’ve seen shopkeepers bend over backwards while doing the splits for my old employer.

        But. She was white. So…

  11. Tolleyko says:

    Oprah is already over it. I bet she had no idea it would blow up, but now, that little Italian storeclerk will know: show your merchandise to every customer who asks for it. I mean, why not do that anyway? It’s so silly.

    • Sherry says:

      When I lived in LA, I worked for an auction gallery in Beverly Hills. I have a “thing” for pink diamonds and I would go into several of the jewelry stores in the vicinity and dream.

      I actually had one store owner come and grab me off the street one day because he got a new suite of pink diamonds in and wanted me to see them. When I asked why he was so nice to let me try all of this gorgeous jewelry on when he knew I couldn’t afford it, he replied, “In this town, it pays to be nice to everyone. One minute you could be an aspiring actress (which I was) and the next you could be in the biggest movie in the world, or marry someone who is.”

    • minime says:

      Yes!!! I think that (at least) the store clerk might take that as a learned fact, let’s hope!

  12. Nona says:

    Both dumb asses from that boutique pnly bolster oprahs claims inwittingly.

  13. sarah says:

    I think Oprah WAS being over-sensitive. If you are of another race (other than white) and someone is rude to you DO NOT assume it’s because of your skin color. Maybe that person is just an a**hole and rude to everyone! I married into a black family. I’ve seen real racism at work. I’ve also seen people overreact to situations where race had NOTHING to do with it but because they were black, they thought it was.

    I think this whole thing is getting out of hand.

    • Leah says:

      Its getting out of hand because the store clerk and owner just can stop talking. Oprah mentioned the episode as an example of what in her opinion constitutes as racism but she never outed the store in question. At the moment when the owner came forward she gave the story extra leg. So the owner is to blame for this story getting blown out of proportion. If she hadnt come forward again and again it would have just been an incident in a non specific store in the city of zurich.

    • AlmondJoy says:

      So because you married into a black family you’re completely sure there was no racism involved? Interesting.

      • Missy says:

        @almondJoy: of course because she married into a black family she now has this insight and can definitely say that this incident in Switzerland had nothing to do with racial prejudice. Ha. What an idiot. I don’t know why she even felt the need to qualify her statement by saying that she had married into a black family in the first place if she really belived in what she was saying. The comments on this Oprah thread by ostensibly white commenters are truly bizarre. Why white people get so offended at being called racists and thus vehemently dismiss any accusation of racism is evidence that white guilt is real and is not just a manufactured rhetorical tactic of “race-baiters” like sharpton, Jackson, etc.

      • Twoway says:

        Maybe we all need to take a step back. Whether or not race was a factor, the fact that there are so many stories of people feeling like they were discriminated against speaks to the fact that racism is still alive today, so no more putting our heads in the sand.

        That being said, making a statement about why white peope don’t like being called racst and white guilt is also ignorant. Both races have set prejuideces that we all need to be aware of.

      • sarah says:

        did I say i’m completely sure it wasn’t a race thing? No. But to say anyone is completely sure it WAS a race thing is just as ignorant.

      • Missy says:

        @twoway: making a statement that white people are more offended by being called racists than racism itself, which has been evidenced by the vitriol in the comments on this site by those who are loathe that another black person esp a wealthy black is complaining yet again about racism, is ignorant? I’m guessing you don’t know what ignorance means. White guilt in the context of what I said, specifically the rejection of white guilt and its lasting burden (to which i only intimated and never said explicitly so idk how you could assume i was being pejorative when white guilt was coined in classical anti-racism theory) is very much a motivation for the detractors on here dismissive that race could even have been a factor, that class can be isolated from race by its Zurich and all colors bank there as if intersectionality doesn’t exist. Mentioning the phrase white guilt alone isn’t ignorant. Nice try. Think harder next time.

    • bluecalling says:

      i know you were writing that form a good place but…

      you would never understand. and telling someone who is talking their story that they are wrong is the first step to never understanding.

      for example, if you have a child that is visibly black this may happen: that child is getting sent to detention, put into lower level classed, etc. those are subtle things. yeah, maybe they talk too much but the other talkers are not being sent to detention… does the teacher just not like you kid? and no maybe they are not the first to raise their hand in class but does that make them slow, in fact, they got great grades in science. does that mean they have a behavioral problem? they’re fine at home and their friends look up to them. then you look and see that most of the kids in detention are black and most of the kids with learning problems are black and then it will hit you. and then you will become that parent that will have to fight for your kid because many people, meaning well (or not) are fighting against.

      see racism is not a strange fruit any more (well, most of the time). it is subtle, subconscious and persistent. and the only way people can change it to listen and not dismiss.

      and read the book americannah… its fund and will give you good perspective.

      hope that helped.

      • Missy says:

        Love LOVE adichie and can’t wait to read here latest when I get a chance. Just had to say that lol

      • sarah says:

        I would never understand racism? I’ve been brought to tears after being called a n*gger loving piece of white trash because of who I was with. I KNOW racism is alive, I’ve seen it first hand. I’ve dealt with it first hand. I have 2 children of mixed race. I know. I’m just saying in circumstances like this MAYBE it’s not about race and just about the other person being a rude person in general.

      • Dana says:

        Oh my God that book is amazing! Best thing I’ve read in ages! Totally agree with everything you said.

      • bluecalling says:

        @sarah

        I should’ve written fully understand… and no one should expect you to. But be empathetic and open. I’m an African immigrant in anerican and I don’t fully understand, that’s why I recommended that book.

        But don’t dismiss those who lived it & understand. It’s not ok. No one accepts a man saying like oh I totally understand what sexism is and THAT, my dear was not sexism. We would crucify him on this board. Why is it when a black person or woman makes their narrative its totally dismissed with I KNOW racism (???) and THAT was not racism? Not fair.

    • Seriously For Real says:

      Sarah – I hope you get realistic and help your black children deal with the real world.

  14. Annabelle says:

    I don’t think the sales person intentionally offended Oprah, and I don’t think she was basing her actions on race. The salesperson was trying to maximize her chances of a selling something and offered to show bags that were less expensive than the one Oprah may have pointed out because most people wouldn’t have been able to afford the super-pricey bag, regardless of skin color. The salesperson did acknowledge that English is not her first or best language, so that may be at play here, but this really looks like Oprah blew a situation without racial undertones out of proportion.

    • Tessa says:

      A car dealer would have better luck putting me in a Subaru to test drive as opposed to a Maserati. I would NEVER drive away in the Maserati. It would be a waste of time for all around to have me test drive it.

      I’m white. I dress probably similarly to how Oprah was dressed. Nice, but not too nice to say I had a lot of money. I don’t. Oprah does… Anyway…

      Did the sales clerk size her up for sale based on her clothes, or based on her skin color? Only the sales clerk knows, and maybe she doesn’t even really know how she sizes up customers… But all people in the big sales industry do it. They have to gauge their customers. Oprah felt she was sized up based on the color of her skin. It’s possible. I don’t think we’ll ever know the truth. I think it’s time for everyone to just apologize and move on.

      • MiniKitty says:

        That’s great, but SOMEONE is going to buy that Maserati. Why the h*ll didn’t the saleswoman show Oprah the bag that she requested? Maybe the clerk is “tired of taking it out of the case” or whatever, but if you don’t show the item to the customers who request it, you’re never going to sell it. That was a poor decision. No excuse.

  15. Sisi says:

    okay I was one of the people that thought that Oprah thought she was a victim of something that was misunderstood snobbery. But now the store is DEFINITELY playing victim. The owner is being a spoiled brat.

    Sheesh. Just admit you only cater to dried out nouveaux riches that look like Donatella and dress in Cavalli and you are very sorry that you misjudged a potential customer and you will never do it again.

  16. Janice says:

    What kind of business is this? Why would you prefer that your staff sell the cheaper product??? I’m no MBA but I dont think this is what “ethical business” means exactly.

    This Trudie person reminds me of those commenters on Paula Deen articles. “Why cant I use the N word boohoo” Or “I am not racist, I have a black friend”. Stupid people with no self awareness.

    • Bijlee says:

      Or the people saying Tina Turner lives in Zurich therefore Switzerland can’t be racist? That’s the most baloney defense to come out of all of this. That’s just like the “I have black friends so I can’t be racist” defense.

    • MiniKitty says:

      That’s great, but SOMEONE is going to buy that Maserati. Why the h*ll didn’t the saleswoman show Oprah the bag that she requested? Maybe the clerk is “tired of taking it out of the case” or whatever, but if you don’t show the item to the customers who request it, you’re never going to sell it. That was a poor decision. No excuse. And plenty of people say and do racist things without even being aware of it. That’s part of the point of this discussion; it’s so deeply entrenched in our society and culture that we can be racist without even realizing. Recognizing and admitting is the first step to change.

  17. Maria says:

    when we talk about racism i really would like to know how the bag she wanted to buy was made, by whom and under which circumstances. i dont think they tranquilized the crocodile, killed it painlessly and then workers with social security and good wages manufactured her bag.

    im sensitive on this since i met this black girl who is the daughter of a banker who makes millions with speculation on food in africa. she yells racism at every opportunity while everything she owns was payed by starving children in africa.

    • Missy says:

      Re the girl you know, you’re saying her wealth invalidates her accusations of being discriminated against? Being rich, doesn’t maker her white, it just makes her rich. Maybe she’s not crying racism but referencing valid experiences in which she was treated as less than bc she has a black phenotype. How would you know otherwise? Does the power of women like Sheryl Sandburg, pelosi, Clinton mean that sexism is no longer a problem? I guess by your logic, it would.

      • Gigila says:

        Uh no. You’re putting words in her mouth. What she is saying is the bankers daughter only cares about her own discrimination but doesn’t care about the systemic global slavery that she benefits from. ie., she doesn’t care that her first world wealth is provided by the exploitation of third world African nations. If she cared about equality, true racial equality, she would care about the people still being exploited in post-colonial countries instead of being blindly complicit with it. She was just saying she was a big hypocrite.

      • Missy says:

        Why do you and the previous commentator expect her to be more empathetic to “global slavery” or free market economics as some might say bc she’s black and has been a victim of racial discrimination? You’re saying that she should do more and has more obligation to fight western economic interests in the third world than someone white bc she has the same skin color as the poor Africans on whose labor she profits otherwise she’s a hypocrite? Lol news flash people are equally entitled to be selfish and greedy regardless of skin color; blacks shouldn’t be expected to do more be they’re black / the onus is not on just blacks to rehabilitate race relations ESP since race is a social construct created by whites

      • Gola says:

        Actually, I don’t think these two were saying black people have an obligation to do “more” about global inequality, they were saying that black people can be just as annoyingly hypocritical and elitist as white people. I’m not black, but I’m Indian and I totally get what she’s saying. It’s a good point considering Oprah does this all the time. People get pissed off about this story and even though it seems like most are defending racist bullshit, like this shop assistant is obi a racist IMO, but it’s just every damn story Oprah has involves her elite BS. Like Oprah she just lives in a totally reality and her stories just don’t relate to anyone anymore.

  18. smee says:

    I do wonder, if by now, Oprah just expects the seas to part when she arrives anywhere. This might have had nothing to do with racism and everything to do with bad service and/or high expectations. It’s prob. a combo of both.

    The shop owner should STFU and just let this die.

    • Annabelle says:

      I understand why she feels she can’t, though. I don’t know if she outed her shop or if the press did, but now the Almighty Oprah has indirectly mentioned that her shop is racist. Oprah is mega wealthy and still has a lot of influence. I wouldn’t want her calling anything to do with me or my business racist, and I’d fight it, too.

      • Sunlily says:

        She didn’t out them all. They outed themselves for some stupid reason, but people either aren’t paying attention to that little fact, or they just dislike Oprah to the point that they just want this to be all her fault and would rather ignore the facts.

      • Steph says:

        Yea Oprah did not say the name of the store or the name of the clerks. She simply stated it was in Zurich. Then the idiotic shop owner outed what store they are. Oprah is likely over it as well considering she even told the story in response to an interview question and did not come out of that store guns blazing for their heads.

      • Xera345 says:

        Isn’t it normal that a shop owner would want to correct the story if they were falsly accused of racist bias, even it they were unnamed. Anyone would want to set the story straight if a

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        Totally agree with you. And it is totally idiotic to say that the store outed themselves; people would figure it out.

        and actually, if it were true that no one could have figured it out AND the story were true then they would not have said anything. The fact that they came out and said it wasnt true leads me to listen to them.

  19. Marta says:

    Black people are sensitive about being black, Yellow people are sensitive about being yellow, White people are sensitive about being white .In this case Oprah was offended because somebody was taking her for POOR !! She should be ashamed to buying so expensive bag instead of helping with her Money some really poor kids to have better future.If she is SO sensitive she could choose a black Children. I will be not offended and I´m poor compared to this very rich drama Queen – Oprah.

    • Hannah says:

      It’s amazing how far you people are prepared to go to offer up excuses for this sales woman. You must really dislike Oprah to come up with all these excuses. Bottom line is the saleswoman should have shown the customer the bag she desired to see. Its not under any circumstances her call to decide what a customer can afford. Her job is to fetch the bag. No excuses. Full stop.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Agree, Hannah.

      • Nev says:

        WORD!!!!!!

        all these excuses and theories and it’s so clear already.

        just admit it the sales clerk is a JACKASS!!!!
        who cares if Oprah is rich or snobby or a diva even. hahahahaha

      • Stacy says:

        This x1,000,000!!! Great response Hannah.

        Why, why, why are so many commentators on here taking the store’s side on this one and taking such glee in bashing Oprah?

        I am not Oprah’s biggest fan but she was discriminated against plain and simple. It is NOT okay what happened to her. This latest story from the shop owner outright confirms everything Oprah originally said. The shop owner admits that the saleswoman refused to show Oprah the original bag and tried to steer her towards the “cheaper” bags.

    • Ok says:

      Marta — hold on. Oprah DOES help out the less fortunate. She is wealthy, but she is extremely philanthropic. And I do believe that’s at of her generosity she does not seek to publicize.

      Heck, all you had to do was watch he show. She even used her influence to procure nice (favorite ) things for others.

      It is extremely unfair for you to fault Oprah for wanting to enjoy her wealth. She has her cake and she has every right to eat it too.

    • Helena says:

      In what kind of situation does being white become an disadvantige? I’ve travelled the world and being white has only advantiges. I’m pretty sure that black people don’t have the sane experience.

    • Pinky says:

      How can you seriously call people “yellow” and feel as though you can assess this situation with impartiality?

      • Marta says:

        It can be Black, Yellow, White,Red, Green or Lillac.it is Your prejudice who make words violated.

  20. Anna says:

    Never fight a land war in Asia. Never fight a PR war with Oprah.

    • Ok says:

      Anna — I would agree with you on both sentences

    • Cazzee says:

      Hilarious

    • Pinky says:

      The second one was only slightly less well known, but now everybody knows it!

      • I Choose Me says:

        Ha! Thank you Pinky (and Anna) for injecting some humor into this thread.

        My thoughts: I don’t know if the sales lady was being racist but I do know she was being an a-hole and I have no reason not to believe Oprah even though I think she’s an elitist jackass herself. As for the store owner Trudy, the more she keeps talking the more this whole incident has snow-balled. She really, really needs to hush.

    • littlestar says:

      Love it! Lol, best comment today :).

  21. CAJ says:

    “Oprah came into the business, wanted to see the crocodile bag. She inquired about the price. When my saleswoman told her that it cost 35,000 francs and then offered to show her cheaper ones, she walked away.”

    This saleswoman probably gets 10:1 inquiries for her to pull this bag off the top shelf : those who actually purchase it, regardless of income.

    She was probably just being efficient and playing the probability given she has a long history of sales in this environment, i.e. knowing what the average customer wants.

    Oprah, on the other hand, seems to be throwing an adult temper tantrum to the tune of ‘looking’ for negativity. Believing is seeing. Why can’t she have a little grace and not assume the worst from people? And even so, people treat people rudely every day. If you spend all your time fussing about every little thing, what a rotten life you must have. Oh, Oprah. You poor victim.

  22. Shelley says:

    This store owner and her assistant are digging their own grave…if you are accused of racism, the most stupid thing you can say is that the other person is over sensitive…rather flat out deny it or STFU.

  23. Jacqueline says:

    I’m sure there is untold snobbery is places like that. Then, you have Oprah admittedly walking in empty handed, to someone who doesn’t know who she is, and they won’t let her see the most expensive purse in the place. I don’t blame the shop girl for not letting very person off the street finger the merchandise. It’s a huge misunderstanding and it needs to die a quick death.
    Does anyone else taste the absurdity that Oprah’s “racist” encounter involves a $40,000 purse? She’s totally out of touch.

    • fingerbinger says:

      Oprah carries black card. A person is supposed to go shopping with a suit case full of money to prove they can afford something. I know people do not like O,but this is getting silly

  24. Tessa says:

    Was it racism or just Oprah being a diva? The world will never know. Can we move on, please?

    • Leah says:

      Why is she a diva? She was denied to look at an item she wanted to look at. Anyone, black or white, would be annoyed at that kind of behaviour from a shop assistant. The bizarre and divaish behaviour here comes from the shop assistant who is so above herself and elitist she thinks she can look at people and determine what they can afford.

  25. Gina Sherrard says:

    I think oprah has a new movie out.. the Butler and id getting a lot of free publicity

  26. BlackMamba says:

    I think that the situation was a mixture of racism, classism, fattism and snobbery. Oprah does not look like money when she’s not dolled up for TV, so the salesperson did not show her the bag because she assumed she couldn’t afford it base on looks and that includes her skin color in my opinion. It’s not far fetch that it could be pure racism so I don’t know why people are saying Oprah is way of base and blaming her for the situation. And don’t forget Oprah is black so her experiences are way different than yours as a white person, Lainey had a great Intro about that yesterday. That salesperson was an ass whatever her motives were so I’m quite surprise that people are going out of their way to excuse her behavior.

    • Kiddo says:

      Yes, it’s one or more or all of those things combined, but it also represents a kerfuffle between the über privileged class. I wish the shop keep would shut it already. Although I suspect since it became an international issue with criticism of Switzerland, in general, it will go on and on.

  27. LAK says:

    Of course the store owner isn’t going to take this lying down. Zurich is frequented by uber wealthy non-white clients. If her store is branded racist, there goes her livelihood.

    • Drea says:

      Which makes the store owner an even bigger moron since she outed herself and thus branded her own store as racist.

      Maybe she should have taken it lying down and kept her mouth shut – her store wouldn’t be making headlines for having racist staff if she had done so.

    • emmie_a says:

      A snobby Zurich boutique being labeled racist is not going to put it out of business… It could possibly make it look more elite and actually boost business.

  28. Annie says:

    I think this lady is enjoying her 5 minutes of fame and all of the free publicity. Everyone now knows that there’s a store in Zurich that carries $38,000 Tom Ford Croco bags. And the really snobby ones probably want one now, because Hey! Even Oprah couldn’t get one.

    But Oprah dear, if you’re shopping for 38K bags and get offended because they’re only showing you the 6K to 10K ones, you’re just as guilty as the clerk of snobbism. The only reason anyone pays that kind of money for a designer bag, croco or not, is for the exclusivity factor, aka: I’ve got one and you don’t. Otherwise, you’d hire some incredibly talented but no-name (yet) designer and have spectacular one of a kind pieces made for 1/20th of the price.

    Just saying… If you’re paying mostly for the name rather than for the goods, there’s a certain degree of snobbism involved.

    • Marta says:

      “If you’re paying mostly for the name rather than for the goods, there’s a certain degree of snobbism involved”

      +1

    • The Original G says:

      Really? You think that store clerks should assign purchases to potential customers as philosophical therapy? Weak.

    • fingerbinger says:

      In Oprah’s defence I don’t think she knew the price of the bag she just wanted to see it. Those kinds of stores don’t usually have prices on the items.

      • Annie says:

        Designer Croco bags are always very expensive, she’d have had a pretty good idea before knowing the price that it would have been at the very least, 20K.

        And then she took offense becuse the salesperson offered to show her bags that were worth “only” 10K? I guess that being treated as if you’re a rich black woman instead of an uber-rich black woman is racism these days.

      • The Original G says:

        I don’t know how it works where you live, but generally speaking the CUSTOMER decides what they’d like to look at/buy in a store. It matters not if the purchase is $38,000. or $38.

        It’s Zurich, not a retro soviet state store.

      • Annie says:

        The customer is always right is not a very European concept. They’re snobs in these stores. These luxury brands remain exclusive and maintain their high prices because they make their clients feel like they’re “better” than the average Joe. So, no… If a customer, any customer, asks to see a $38,000 bag, they really don’t always pull it out.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        Isnt that the point??? The salesperson knew it was a really expensive bag ans she doesnt just take it down for everybody.

        Hey, look at the one first – it is just like it.

        I think Oprah just didnt like that the woman didnt jump to and do it and misread her attempt to show her a similar bag with some kind of statement on her color. What if it was protecting a fragile and expensive bag that she would be responsible paying for if a customer marked it?

  29. OhDear says:

    The more the people at that boutique talk to the media, the more defensive they sound and the more it seems like they doth protest too much.

  30. Trashaddict says:

    The great thing about capitalism, is when a business owner treats you like shit, you have the opportunity to walk away, which is what Oprah did. She did not do the “do you know who I AM?” bit. So I am with her.
    Racism is not just about using the “n” word. Even if it wasn’t meant to be racist it was at the very least, rude. You don’t need to wish for the shop to burn to the ground. The owner is managing to kill her own business without anyone’s help.

  31. The Original G says:

    I guess Trudie Goetz won’t be giving this up till she’s done giving Oprah a beating.

  32. Ag says:

    i love it how people pretend that just because this saleswoman didn’t say “i won’t show your this purse BECAUSE YOU’RE BLACK”, it wasn’t a racist assumption she was making, a racist comment, etc. it was. stop being naive. sadly, racism still exists and those who pretend it doesn’t are either out of touch or lying to themselves (and others).

    • Missy says:

      +1. Ttheyre naive, out of touch, uneducated, or they just don’t care bc racism doesnt negatively affect them and they are complacent in maintaining in the status quo in which they, whites, will always been seen as better, more desirable, smarter, more beautiful… than nonwhites.

      • Dts says:

        Ah, so making blanketed statements about all whites is a great way to enhance race relations. Yes, racism still exists and it’s very upsetting, but not all white people are uneducated or don’t care.

      • Missy says:

        I meant to say naive OR out or touch OR uneducated OR they don’t care… I’m glad for you that you’re more optimistic re thevamelioration of race relations but I’m not. Sure, there are many whites that treat people equally regardless of race but yes, I think there are many more that just don’t give a f bc they’re white and they’re happy that they’re white and on the winning team

    • MegG says:

      Janice- Give me a break. I’m white and always get asked “why don’t you tan?” ” why are you so pale?”. Why is that ok? Plus more.

      • MegG says:

        Why is it only racisim when it’s a black person?

      • Dana says:

        That is ignorance or prejudice if you want… Reverse racism is a myth….

      • fingerbinger says:

        Someone tells you need to tan. I’m missing your point.

      • Annie says:

        Hardly. Most nationalities are racist in their own environments to a certain degree. Go live in a bunch of countries where being white makes you part of the visible minority and then come back and tell me that reverse racism is a myth.

      • UsedToBeLulu says:

        @Dana: Racism is racism, so in that I agree with you that ‘reverse racism’ is a myth. But yeah, what Annie said.

    • Annie says:

      I think if she was being racist, she wouldn’t have shown her any bags at all instead of offering to show her some in the $6000 to $10,000 range.

      • Dana says:

        Are those white minorites prejudiced?probably yes. Are they oppressed? No. there’s no country in the world where white people are sistematically oppressed even when they’re a minority… Racism equals to prejudice+power,therefore the concept of reverse racism is a myth…

      • Annie says:

        Do you know anything about the Berbers in Algeria?

      • Dana says:

        I do,but this would bring us to an unending discussion about ethnic makeup and skin color… For example are Algerians ethnically black?consequently are berbers a white minority? The core of my point is: everybody is subjected to prejudice and ignorance and that’s wrong but whites being in charge literally can’t experience systematic oppression.

      • jwoolman says:

        Dana- there is plenty of oppression of “whites” around the world and throughout history (including US history). This idea of one group oppressing another is ancient, typically based on specific ethnicity or religion or just plain old who conquers whom militarily. Look at the Irish both in Ireland and in the US, for instance. They were labeled outright as intrinsically inferior and other unpleasant things. Pale as ghosts they were, too.

  33. Kemper says:

    Seriously! This bag costs more than I make in a year.

  34. linlin says:

    Ok, this isn’t the full statement of the sales lady. She said, that she told her the price and also added that it was the most expensive and that there were other, cheaper ones. She then asked her if she wanted to see the bag, but Oprah said, she didn’t and left shortly after. She also said, that she knew Oprah was rich since she was there with a bodyguard. And that she was confused why Oprah misunderstood her and what she did wrong but that her English isn’t that good and that maybe that could have been a cause for the misunderstanding. And that she doesn’t understand why she didn’t say anything the next day when she was at Tina Turners wedding together with the owner of the boutique if she really felt mistreated. And that she would never tell a customer that something was too expensive.

    I hate to say it, but while I normally don’t doubt that something was racist, here I am a bit doubtfull. For one, Oprah had already wrongly accused the Hermes store in Paris for being racist (because they wouldn’t open up for her after having already closed.). Also, I think if she really had been outrightly denied the bag, she would have reacted differently. I think she probably felt something was off, which might have just been a language issue but interpreted it as racism and when asked for an example for how she was treated differently remembered it, but thought, saying “I just had a feeling” wouldn’t be strong enough, so embellished the whole thing and now is embarassed, which is way she tries to downplay it again.

  35. Marta says:

    As Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch, next time when going there use one of those Oprah, instead of English and maybe You will be not ofended by salesmen.
    so no snobbish bag anymore but Free Italian, German,French or Romansch language Learning.

    • Thea says:

      Why should she complain to the owner at their friends wedding. That’s absurd, it’s a joyous occasion for a frien not a place for customer complaints. If her English is that bad maybe she should improve it am sure you get lots of international clients in a shop like that and it’s important to be language proficient enough to not offend your customers if you are in the sales and customer service business.

  36. Nev says:

    ENOUGH!!!!

    she thought she was gonna run out of the store with the bag
    or
    she didn’t want her dirty hands to touch it.

  37. Jane says:

    I’m so over this subject already. It’s getting out of hand here.

  38. JL says:

    Essay: ‘The Butler’ finally puts the civil rights movement on-screen. Will others follow? The Washington post.

    Suddenly Ms. Winfrey has a problem with racism in an upper-crust store?

    All that money, she’s had it all this time and it’s the 1st time she’s experienced racism in a store? She has no more poignant examples?

    A day before film reviews came out?

  39. Trek Girl says:

    The treatment Oprah received wasn’t a one time thing. I know that this is something that happens over there and elsewhere. The backflips people will do to deny that racism is a factor would be funny if this wasn’t such a serious matter; one that happens often, but usually ends with the person who was mistreated being told that they are the one who is mistaken and are the one causing the problem.

    I don’t think Oprah is/was being sensitive or was expecting people to roll out the red carpet for her. She was a customer looking to buy. Oprah knows how she was treated, and I’m inclined to believe Oprah based on what the boutique owner said.

  40. truthful says:

    I agree with CB on this, I am sick of them talking about it because they are unknowingly admitting to everything.

    for someone to suggest that I look at a “cheaper” version of anything–unless I ask, is annoying and presumptious.

    I’ve worked at a few stores, we start high and if the customer balks we suggest something less expensive..

    when someone one wants something you don’t start off–not showing it and suggesting something cheaper.

    Neiman Marcus would never play that!

    We were forced to review films of the low key uber rich and were told to be careful how we “assumed” and to just treat everyone like they were all billionaires.

    of course the snooty “married to rich men” sales associates could NOT be bothered. They only dealt w/their regulars and ignored everyone else.

    THEY made the job miserable.

  41. lewissrl says:

    I wasn’t going to comment on this story because it hits too close home for me. A few weeks ago my sister was waiting in line a Dunkin Donuts. A man and his young daughter we in front of her. The little girl smiled and waved at my sister and starred at her repeatedly. She then turned to her father said “Daddy you’re wrong, that n-word isn’t ugly”. All my sister could do was stand there speechless as the man pulled his daughter out of line and left the store. Is this the same as Oprah’s story, no it’s not but experiences like these explain why a person of color might be “overly sensitive”
    Also, can someone please explain to me where the term “playing the race card” comes from. I saw it the comments yesterday and frankly, it annoys the crap out of me. It sounds so dismissive and flippant. As if racism is a game people of color play so that we can complain about things. I never hear anyone say “oh she’s just playing the sexism card”.
    I don’t know what happened in that shop but I do know there is not a country on this planet where having darker skin is seen an advantage.
    As another poster said LaineyGossip had an excellent intro on this yesterday that I think explains this better than I can.

    • Annie says:

      So, the guy had explained to his daughter that the “n-word” was ugly, she saw your sister, thought she was pretty and said that that word wasn’t ugly? Did I understand that right?

      Kid probably heard that word at school, repeated it at home without understanding it didn’t just mean a black person, got lectured about using it and only half understood the explanation. Sounds like in her head, n-word=black and then Dad told her the n-word was ugly which equalled n-word/black=ugly. Which she obviously decided on her own wasn’t true when she saw your sister.

      • Bijlee says:

        Okay now I’m confused.

      • Annie says:

        I’m not sure how to read this now. Did the kid say “n-word” or did the kid use the word that represents?

        If it was the latter, shame on that man for teaching his children to be bigots. None of them start that way.

      • The Original Mia says:

        You are ridiculous. Like seriously ridiculous. Are you being deliberately obtuse or just trolling? The man called black people ugly N-rs. That’s how he described black people in his home & his young, impressionable daughter heard that, believed that until she saw a black woman. Then she repeated exactly what he said in his home. How did you miss the obvious meaning of what this woman is recounting?

      • Annie says:

        Mia,
        The text is ambiguous to read when you’re not a racist *sshole and someone who never uses the word N_r. Forgive me for not being a bigot for whom that word automatically comes to mind and for being someone who, if my kids came home using that word, would tell them it’s an ugly word and to stop using it, pretty much what I thought I was understanding out of this. I read “n-word” as having been said as “n-word”, not N_r.

        Feel better now?

      • lewissrl says:

        Annie, If I didn’t make it clear in comment, I will clarify now. I don’t believe this little girl simply picked this up at school. She was correcting her father about what he had told her. She said to him HE was wrong. It saddens me (but doesn’t surprise me) that hate is passed down.

    • EscapedConvent says:

      I first heard “playing the race card” as an expression during the OJ Simpson trial. It was a new catchy catch-phrase that stuck.

      But it has expanded over the years to all kinds of other “cards”—age card, size card, sexist card, fill-in-the-blank card.

      • Annie says:

        I’ll give two examples of people seeming to play the race card.

        First, a former friend of mine. She would systematically pull the “is it because I’m black” thing whenever she wasn’t getting her own way in something. She used it as a weapon of intimidation in the hopes of forcing the other person to back down out of fear of being seen as a racist. If they did, she’d laugh at them later for being so easily manipulated. She was quite open about what she was doing.

        Halle Berry. Her “one drop” comments (a reference to Jim Crow) about her daughter during the custody case seemed to me to be along the same lines as the tactics pulled by my former friend. It was a nasty strategy designed to play on what someone else here called “white guilt”. Race of any sort shouldn’t even enter into custody hearings, parental ability should be the only criteria, yet there it was. I’m pretty sure that little girl doesn’t label her parents by their skin tones.

      • lewissrl says:

        Thanks for explaining. I still can’t stand the phrase. I think it belittles a persons real world experiences and gives people an excuse to not discuss uncomfortable subjects.

      • Annie says:

        I agree. I also think that when people do this sort of thing abusively, they’re not doing much good for anyone else in their situstion, only themselves.

      • lena80 says:

        @ Annie..the one drop rule is NOT a reference to Jim Crow. It was a LAW created during slavery. If a White man had a baby with a Black African slave, the child was considered full N word, hence they were a slave.

      • Jane says:

        The first time I heard the “race card” used was also the O.J. Simpson trial. Johnny Cochran, his defense lawyer had a reputation for using the race card when defending black defendants and he used it with O.J.

        I don’t know who coined the term, but I heard it a lot during the TV coverage of the trial.

      • Annie says:

        Lena,

        Pardon me. Checked the reference, apparently it was the “Racial Integrity Act” of 1924 that introduced the concept of the “one drop rule”, not the Jim Crow laws. Wrong set of discriminatory legislation, oops.

    • Helena says:

      You explain this perfectly. Being white is always an advantage and for some reason some white people don’t want to acknowlidge that. Because once you acknowdlidge it you understand that there is racist undercurrent in white culture and you as a white person become responsible how you treat people of color. For some people it is too hard and some people are just too comfortable with their white status.

      • Missy says:

        yes, gawd, honey
        (funky dineva reference. Idk if you watch him. Otherwise, +1)

      • Jessiebes says:

        Disagree wholeheartedly.

        Lots of white people are very aware of the awful history of slavery and racism of their forefathers. And are ashamed of it.

      • Missy says:

        Sure there are lots of white people who are ashamed of our past of de June racism. I don’t necessarily think that white people need to feel ashamed–no one can help what color they are. Still, ashamed or not, there are a lot of white people who are happily complicit in receiving and leveraging the advantages their whiteness provides them–that was (part of) Helena’s point, I think

      • Jessiebes says:

        My point is, many white people in Europe are definitely not racist. Far from it, knowing the history of it all.

  42. Jessiebes says:

    Personally I’m used to this kind of service. If there is a bag way up on a shelf, which I would like to see, if the sales person shows me the same bag in another color, I would not be offended. I’d just think it was an efficient way of doing things.

    However Oprah really wanted to see the one on the shelf after that and she should have gotten that service. That request is pretty obvious, even to someone who may not be proficient in English.

    Whether this was racism or not, I don’t know. Not being naïf here either. But expensive stores in big European cities have a very mixed clientele from all areas of the world and they can’t afford to be racist. Therefore I do think this was more about snobbery rather than racism.

    However “the lady does protest too much”. Way too much.

    • Adrien says:

      Snobbery than racism? Who are the types of people she chooses to rebuff? Anyone who enters that boutique certainly has money to pay. Imo, race played a huge part.

      • Jessiebes says:

        Blast, double comment won’t delete.

      • Jessiebes says:

        Since I wasn’t there, I don’t know. I do however want to keep an open mind and not jump the gun calling it racism, when it could be something else.

  43. Adrien says:

    Trudi Gotz looks like a Euro real Housewife. To be fair to Trudi, she’s probably rude even to white people, Russian socialites in particular.
    So cheer up, Oprah, Asians and Eastern European clients just suck it up.

  44. dagdag says:

    Interesting opinions.
    Interesting that many commentators believe classism does not or may not include racism.

    • Jessiebes says:

      Of course it can and does include racism. Doesn’t mean it was the case here.

      • dagdag says:

        You mean, in the „class hierarchy“ of classism the black woman feels the same status as a white woman, in this case, the shop in Zürich?

      • Jessiebes says:

        Yes I do actually. Racism isn’t everywhere in Europe.

    • Angie says:

      Perfect comment.

      I’ve got to stop reading these comments, at least Kaiser seems to be on the right page, as for some of these ‘opinions’, oh, dear, dear.

  45. sharron says:

    Had this in a well known department store in London – I was after a particular bag, told they didn’t have it in stock, then watched as the bag & 5 others ‘from the back'(storeroom) were shown to another customer. The only difference is that I’m white and the sales rep & customer were Arabic. Racism?

  46. lisa says:

    i’ve been to boutiques in europe where i couldnt even get in

    years ago, once i wanted to get a watch in switzerland. i couldnt get in. at my hotel, they made me an appointment and i went back the next day. it wasnt even an expensive watch.

    • sharron says:

      Yep, had that as well, it’s quite normal. They credit check you first / take your details & passport number from the hotel, I think.

      • lisa says:

        i used to travel for work and i’d be on the road out of the US for long stretches of time. i used to have to go shopping because i would be out of clothes or need something warmer or cooler. i have a thousand experiences like this. i was also told that “people like me” get their clothes custom made and to “take that off because i might stretch it.” i weigh 120 lbs. i just accept that they do things differently and never took it personally.

    • sharron says:

      That’s we Europeans, Lisa, equal opportunities when it comes to insulting others! 😉

  47. EscapedConvent says:

    Oh, my. Did I just read that the sales associate is “lying low in fear of public hatred” …..over an incident with a handbag?

    This is how it looks to me: Sales Woman, when a customer asks to see an item in your store, show it to them. Oprah Winfrey, I’ll bet you’ve got enough pricey accessories for 50 lifetimes. I know that isn’t the point of the story, but a bit of perspective would not go amiss.

  48. UsedToBeLulu says:

    She inquired about the price. When my saleswoman told her that it cost 35,000 francs and then offered to show her cheaper ones, she walked away.

    Oprah asked to see the expensive purse and the shop girl wouldn’t let her see it, offering to show Oprah the cheaper purses.”

    ____________________________________

    The logic here does not follow. She didn’t refuse to let Oprah see the purse. Did she assume that Oprah couldn’t afford such an expensive purse? Yes. That is the real reason Oprah was miffed IMO.

    I got a few free issues of Essence magazine, and one of the article titles struck me as strange. “Subtle racism and how you can fight back”. It seemed unnecessarily combative. I don’t blame people for being sensitive about racism. And if you have experienced it yes, you are going to be extra sensitive. But reacting in a combative manner seems counter intuitive to me.

    Oprah walked away after she interpreted the first sentence out of the shop lady’s mouth to be a slight to her. If it had been me, I would have asked to see it again, even insisted. And then I would have flashed my black card and given the shop lady a bit of a lesson on judging people at first sight. But I don’t know, maybe Oprah was tired? Didn’t want to deal?

    • Trek Girl says:

      Or maybe Oprah isn’t mistaken and wasn’t being sensitive. Maybe, just maybe, she’s right. Maybe she, a black woman who has made probably thousands of transactions in her life, knows how she was treated.

      This isn’t about being extra sensitive to racism. It’s not that we’re taking things harder than they really are. We’re taking it seriously because it is a serious matter that can affect almost every part of our life — very, very important parts of our lives as well as the day-to-day parts.

      The article you mentioned wasn’t about being combative. It’s not saying that you need to be aggressive and rude and ready to blow at the slightest hint that you’re not being treated right. It’s about ways to make sure that you are treated as a human being should be treated; ways to stand against subtle racism — the kind of racism that gets overlooked and downplayed, but is in reality a huge, huge problem that can affect our lives in terrible ways.

    • Annie says:

      Just to take it down a notch…

      The store stated that they sell maybe one or two bags a year at that price. How many people look at it, ask the price and then leave, deciding the place is too rich for their blood? Maybe this has nothing to do with Oprah or her perceived wealth at all, maybe it has everything to do with keeping the client in the store after shell-shocking them with a price like that by showing them more affordable similar items in the hopes of a sale. If you’d sold 20 bags at 6-10K a piece to people who had asked about the 38K one by showing them something less extravagently priced, but similar, would you not assume (wrongly in this case) that this might be number 21?

  49. Nena says:

    I was born in France and now living in Spain i can assre you that racisme against black people arabs pakistanis is soooooo normal here its disgusting every day i witness in shops how they get pourly treated for their skin colors….what happend in that shop was racisme because she is black thats all!!!

    • Jessiebes says:

      That’s hard to hear.

      However just because Spain is like that, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the rest of Europe is as well.

      • Trek Girl says:

        That’s the thing, though. It’s not just Spain, it’s not just Switzerland. This is an issue that can be found all over Europe.
        Nena’s statement of what she has seen in Spain is one that has been said by many people in other countries. There have been recent events that were reported in the news that speak to this issue and show how it isn’t isolated.

      • Jessiebes says:

        @trek girl. Sure there are awful stories about racism in Europe but it really isn’t everywhere all the time.

      • Bijlee says:

        No duh it isn’t everywhere all the time, but it EXISTS. You seem very intent on discrediting any racist experience. That’s another part of the problem.

  50. Cora says:

    I kind of like it that the Swiss store isn’t taking this lying down.

    • The Original G says:

      No, they aren’t. But everytime they try to get up they slip and fall on their own.

  51. Nerd Alert says:

    Wow, how is it that more angles keep coming out and they’re all the same?

    Store lady didn’t recognize Oprah. Store lady refuses to show the bag. Oprah leaves.

    Nothing has changed! The only thing they’re arguing about now are the intentions behind each other’s actions. Store lady was a rich snob, and Oprah’s a richer snob. Damn, get over it.

    #richpeopleproblems

  52. Wm says:

    Try going into a high end boutique in Europe. They snap at you if you even touch anything. The women who work at these places are hardly “little shop girls”, they’re incredibly snobbish and look down their nose at just about everyone that comes in unless your dripping in furs and diamonds. It’s even worse if you’re American. My German mother in law warned us about this and I thought she must be exaggerating. She wasn’t. Team Oprah.

  53. Jessiebes says:

    Dailymail has a new interview with Oprah. It does appear that racism was more of an issue than her pervious statements.

    • UsedToBeLulu says:

      Well, Oprah just doubles down on the fact that she believes it was racism. What that article tells me, is someone is lying about the interaction those two women had. As to who it is, we will likely never know.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        I think it is quite possible that it is a misunderstanding which Oprah interpreted as racism. So far, I don’t think the store has slipped up. If the owner were a racist why would she be at Tina Turner’s wedding?

  54. Marta says:

    Quasi-Lynching

    Friday, June 24, 2005

    The furor surrounding the refusal to admit Oprah Winfrey and her longtime companion to Hermes in Paris after store hours has escalated to the next level. “Oh, it’s on,” her spokesperson was quoted as saying. “What is ‘Hermes’ French for? ‘Ku Klux Klan’?”

    http://oprahscrusade.blogspot.se/

  55. Angie says:

    If they drop that she’s Italian one more f*cking time.

    So am I, which is equally as irrelevant. What is your damn point you’re so desperately trying to make???

    ffs :|.

    • Mika says:

      Thank you Angie.

      I keep reading about how this lady is Italian. So what? Does her being Italian make some extraordinary difference?

      They need to drop this Italian angle. If she can’t converse in English then she needs to get off the shop floor and be replaced by someone who speaks English to a conversant level.

      Would things have played out differently if she was German, French or American?

      • Ennie says:

        English would not be the first and most importantblanguage to bevhired. The shop girl probably already speak 4 or 5 languages, French, Italian, German, probaby other and English.. How perfect are we in the little nuances in languages? Hey, how many languages does O speak?

      • Lucrezia says:

        What’s with the “speak English or gfto” comments? (Mica’s is not the first one I’ve seen.)

        Newsflash: there are countries where English is not the main language.

        Do you expect every random shop-clerk everywhere to speak English? Don’t you see how arrogant that is?

  56. Lisa says:

    Says the white woman. Lord.

  57. Stanhope says:

    The bottom line is that the shop girl’s job is to show merchandise available for sale. Her job is not to assess the net worth of customers. It is a safe bet that said shopgirl could not afford the bag herself. I have had a salesperson at both NEIMAN Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman fired for similar insults. The shop owner in a fool. Oprah, considering her vast resources should be admired for the restraint she showed. She didn’t name the store which was classy on her part. Now had it been Gayle King..that shopgirl would have been road kill.

    • Lucrezia says:

      Are you sure they were fired?

      Because I’ve managed retail, and generally just said whatever I had to in order to get the complaining customer to shut up and leave.

      There are honestly so many strange/unreasonable customers that a single complaint is unlikely going to get someone fired. I’m not saying your specific complaints were invalid, it’s just there really are a lot of crazies out there. More than half of the complaints I heard were obviously ridiculous (e.g., “you need to fire that person who refused to give me a refund [on something the store doesn’t sell]”.) A string of complaints is a different kettle of fish. But a single complaint/first complaint: no, the worker gets the benefit of the doubt.

  58. Stanhope says:

    Patti Labelle would have bought the purse and slapped the heifer with it. Go Patti

  59. DeltaJuliet says:

    So, isn’t it just possible that the sales woman was a lazy asshole who didn’t want to take the extra effort to get the other bag? Why does it always have to be about race? No one kisses my butt when I go shopping either, why should the Mighty O be any different?

  60. Doesn’t anyone else think it is just GROSS that ANYONE…Oprah included(!)…is looking to buy a 38,000 handbag?

    • UsedToBeLulu says:

      She says she wouldn’t have bought it anyway, once she found out the price.

    • Marta says:

      I see the point here, Oprah is a liar about both Hermes and the shop in Schweiz, but to buy 38,000 handbag is really unethical those days!

  61. Marta says:

    Oprah is an avowed animal rights spokeswoman. PETA, the world’s largest animal rights group, named her “person of the year” in 2008 after she spoke out against the wearing of fur!!!

    “Oprah should know crocodiles suffer for the production of such items.
    The animals are kept in extremely small enclosures,’ she said. ‘To kill them the animals are beaten with a hammer on the head, and in some farms and it sometimes takes two hours before they are dead.’

    So much for animal lover here.

  62. YvetteW says:

    I don’t understand this concept of proof.

    I insulted you. You didn’t record it. I can deny it and you can swear up and down that it happened. I am a liar.

    I didn’t insult you. You are too sensitive and desirous of attention. How do I clear my name?

    This could go on all day and clearly has in this case.

    Did the incident happen? No one will ever know.

  63. Thea says:

    What I don’t understand is white commenters who become defensive and make up all kinds of excuses for the store owner and store clerk. Racism is real, it excist. Sometimes people don’t even know they are being racist its the way they been raised and they aren’t very educated or worldly. As a white person one should not be so offended om behalf of a random fellow member of ones race that one denies the excistence of racism. Just the same for a black person. An asshole is an asshole whatever the race. Oprah may be filthy rich and decadently wiling to send more money on a handbag than many people earn in a year, but that’s her right just like any rich person whatever the color. For the salesperson to deny her the item based on assumptions about class and race is a douchebag move. Its rude and unprofessional in the very least.

    • judyjudyjudy says:

      i am white and I am not defensive. I But the fact is that often these high end stores get 1 or 2 of these high end items and are told not to let a lot of people handle them or then they cant sell them to a discerning buyer. So the employee has to judge whether to show the exact bag or not.

      In this light it makes total sense that she would show one that looks just like it first. That isnt racism.

      Having said that, high-end stores are meant to be snobby so that the snobs go there. Snobs do not want to mingle with peasants.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        and i dont mean the above to read Oprah is a peasant…I am a peasant. I dont have her money and I am thin and white and i doubt the sales person would have shown me a whole bunch of 6k bags. lol.

  64. Greenieweenie says:

    Good luck with that, Trudi with an i. Crush her, Oprah.

  65. Greta says:

    On American airlines long ago before she flew private jets, Oprah raised a ruckus because a black flight attendant was working in coach, not first class. In order to calm the angry star, the black flight attendant was called to the forward cabin where she informed Oprah that she chose to work coach on that flight and therefore was not being “sent to the back of the bus.”. Perhaps in her mind, Oprah is the Rosa Parks of her day. Mrs. Parks was a quiet, dignified woman who did not require the world to change for her. Oprah uses race to browbeat innocent people; she is a scary ugly woman, inside and out..

  66. Jessiebes says:

    It seems that there is a huge disagreement in the comments. On one hand, people think the shopkeeper was racist. On the other hand people think there may be other issues that made the sales people behave like she did.

    I’m called racist, homophobic, etc all the time. It goes with my job as a police officer. I don’t arrest you because you are of a different colour or background, religion, but because there is proof you committed a crime!

    Being called a racist is hugely offensive and hurtful, especially when you are not. So stop it unless you are absolutely sure.

    Stfu generalising that all white people in Europe are racists. Sure it happens, but not everywhere. Stop being so sensitive about your skin colour. Most Europeans don’t care, they just want your money, or in my case just to adhere to the law.

    • dagdag says:

      @Jessiebes

      I really thought you were being sarcastic re your statements above.

      The least I can say, you have a blind spot re your comrades.

    • Thea says:

      Huge generalisation no one has claimed EVERY european is racist. I am in Europe myself and there are racist and fine specimens who don’t discriminate on the basis of race. Again I don’t understand why some of you feel intensely that you need to defend this shop assistant actions just because you are white or european As a white european this is so weird to me. I do not feel I need to defend rude people just because I happen to be from the same continent or race. Like Oprah says just because this one person acted like this does not reflect in the whole of Switzerland.

    • Missy says:

      You may not be arresting people bc they’re nonwhite, but I’m fairly sure racial profiling and racially-biased policing tactics, in which low-income, minority and immigrant neighborhoods have a higher police presence than in white neighborhoods resulting in more nonwhites being disproportionately arrested for the same crimes than whites, happen in Europe, too.

  67. blaize says:

    I don’t think this is a case of Oprah being a diva or expecting special treatment because of her fame, and I think the people saying that are being a little insensitive. Just because a person is rich and/or famous doesn’t mean that they don’t experience microagressions or even blatant racism, and they shouldn’t be made to feel that they can’t speak up about potentially racist experiences because they’ll be silenced with the “You’re just an angry, whiny rich diva who’s not getting her way” card.

    I think the saleslady took one look at Oprah and quickly decided that she wouldn’t be able to afford the expensive purse based on her physical appearance and, yes, her race. I think it’s a snobby mix of classism and racism.

    Sometimes people do assume that a person can’t afford something based on their skin color. When I was in sixth grade, I was in a homeroom class where all the other kids were white. I’m Indian, Native American, and Irish, but my skin is dark (compared to most white people) and my hair is black. This teacher never treated me better or worse than she treated any other students. But one day, she started asking me questions like, “Does your home have electricity? Does your family have a working telephone? Do you get enough to eat?” And smiled and nodded her head like, “Good,” after each answer.

    The answer to each question was yes, and I kind of said it with a little bit of a snarky attitude, because I was shocked and embarrassed. It was so random, and I was thinking, “Why am I the only kid in the room who she’s asking these things? And in class, with other kids around? Why isn’t she asking any of the white kids these questions? Is she assuming that I’m poor?” I never told my mother about it because I knew she would have been pissed at the teacher and she would have made an issue of it. But it was weird. I never had any other problems with that teacher though.

    • stinky says:

      (no offense… but maybe your teacher thought you looked less than well taken care of???)(wrinkly clothes or unbrushed hair or who knows, you were only 12 or so, right?)
      (i had a teacher grill me when i was around 7 because i had bad breath… she asked about my folks, then if i was brushing my teeth, and she gave me some candy, and i didnt connect the dots – at all! haha – until way later)
      (i can’t knock her for trying. if she had been more direct tho, i would have got the point and made sure to brush)

      • Sloane Wyatt says:

        @ stinky: Did your teacher ask these questions in front of your whole class?

      • blaize says:

        @stinky: I doubt it. I’ve always been good about my hygiene, and more effort was put into my hair looking nice at that age. brushed my hair. I didn’t wear torn clothes or anything either. Just ordinary stuff.

      • stinky says:

        this took place in class w/ everyone present – BUT, i was w/ several kids who were nearer to her at the time. So i’ll presume she smelled my stinky-unbrushed-morning-mouth…. although i’m not so sure i didnt brush! it was a long time ago (haha) She didnt single me out w/ everyone seated and facing forward – but she certainly didnt speak to me privately either. i hope i dont sound scarred. Yo we’re talking about 1972!!! Shoooee.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      @ Blaize: Excellent comments, especially your salient point “Just because a person is rich and/or famous doesn’t mean that they don’t experience microagressions or even blatant racism..”.

      A shopgirl who treats a black woman, obviously well off enough to be accompanied by a bodyguard, as too poor to afford an expensive purse is a racist. Many posters here cannot seem to fathom that racist slights hurt on a very deep level, that racism seeks to declare you as less than, and that racism tars you with more than a brush of condescension.

      All of us, no matter our financial means, are inherently equal to one another.

  68. LaurieH says:

    This is the part the doesn’t make sense to me: many people, including Oprah herself, likened it to the scene from Pretty Woman. Except in the scene from the movie, not only did the sales lady refuse to give her the price of the dress on the mannequin, she said there was nothing in the store for her – please leave. Oprah, on the other hand, was not asked to leave. She was shown “cheaper bags”, but make no mistake: those “cheaper bags” were not cheap. So if we are to believe that the sales lady did not show Oprah the $38,000 bag because she was black or was not wearing Louboutin’s and, therefore was assumed to be unable to afford it, then why show her a “cheaper” bag for $12,000 or $25,000?

    • FingerBinger says:

      That’s the part of the story I’m having problems with. If you’re in a store looking at $10,000-$25,000 bags wouldn’t you just assume that the person could also afford a $38,000 bag as well. This only works if the saleslady was showing her $400-$5,000 bags.

      • Annie says:

        Well, if the usual reaction to the price tag is to buy something less expensive, then no. They did say they only sold a couple of $25,000 bags a year.

    • Missy says:

      If the sales associate had asked Oprah to leave the store that would could have resulted in her being reprimanded by her boss. Showing her cheaper bags instead of the one Oprah asked to see seems like a conciliatory gesture

      • LaurieH says:

        Okay, but that still doesn’t make sense. If you think someone can’t afford a $38k bag and you don’t want them touching it, then you’d also assume they can’t afford a $25k bag and wouldn’t want them touching that either. It’s not like the lady said, “Oh, you can’t afford Tom Ford, let me show you something similar in a Jessica Simpson.”. After finding out days later that the bag cost $38k, Oprah tweeted that the sales lady did her a favor, because she would NOT have paid that much for that bag. That tells me that the lady didn’t show her the bag because she knew it was grossly overpriced. I have no doubt that Oprah has experienced racism in her life, but I don’t think this was one of them. I simpy think that the sales lady – not recognizing Oprah and instead thinking she was just an American tourist looking for a high-quality bag – was steering her away from what she thought was basically a rip-off. And let’s face it: $38k for a Tom Ford bag? Who cares if it was made of alligator skin. It could have been made of Tom Ford’s skin and it still wouldn’t be worth that. Oprah may be rich, but she’s not stupid. Proportionately speaking, she still knows good value for her dollar.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        @ LaurieH
        (not to missy)

        looks like you are responding to what I wrote elsewhere re “not touching” the bag.
        I only suggested that may have been the case.

        any sorry, but some things are worth more money and I have ZERO doubt that Oprah would indeed pay that much for a bag. Any idea what all her pratesi sheets cost? I smell bullsh&t coming from Oprah now. She is backpedaling on the whole point to her story. The sales person said the bag was expensive and wouldn’t show it to her before she offered her others and Oprah saw that as racism when it could be a few other things like I suggested and like you did. Both plausible.

  69. Hypocrisy says:

    As a Black Belgian i can tell that true, there is racism but also the vast majority of the posh boutiques have a snobbish attitude which isn’t a racist bias but more like a class or nationality bias.

    Let me be clear about it, nationality and all the stereotypes attached to them : examples of stereotypes : Americans : loud with no class, hence a seller may automatically assume that they are ignorant and don’t know what a good product is, hence may overreact, adopting a condescending attitude before letting the costumer decide what s/he want, French : arrogant and loud and unlingual…french customers may easily insult the seller and put her at her back at her place, hence they won’t dare pushing it too much once a parisian comes because those customers will lash out quickly wether they are Black, White or Asian…, Chinese = laidback, soft speaker, relying to what the seller will offer and spend a lot of money, ect…

    Also Europe isn’t an homogeneous entity so saying Europe = USA is flawn. The US is basicly an anglo saxon based culture with mixity.

    I live in Brussels, 90 minutes by train from Paris and though we both speak french i can tell you that there is definitely a great difference in culture. They are more latine in their behaviour, hot blooded, we are more germanic, cold blooded…even between Black folks originally from the same african countries but born or/and raised in France or Belgium…the culture of both countries and even the different cultures within the same countries is diferrent and make people acting, reacting differently…Belgium being tiny, i can tell teh diffrence between the South and the north…the South is more french, the north is more like natherlands and germany, culturally speaking too including when it comes to the enterprise culture.

    Switzerland isn’t even a homogenous country. They have cantons and speak 4 languages (2 latines 2 germanic) with different crossed cultures.

    Now concerning the snobbish attitude, i tend to think that in boutiques its more like 85% snobbish, 15% racist.

    Why ? Because Europe isn’t the US, the slightest hint of racism or even insult could lead to a fine. Also I say this because those veiled middle eastern customers don’t experience this type of suff while racism struck even more Muslims than Black folks. Sellers know they are exctremely rich. The same way, twenty years from now, the posh area in Brussels were full of Zairian costumers, women from the Mobutu regime with bags full of banknotes paying cash big money) and it was known that they accounted for like 20% of the total gross of those boutiques, just like it was know that Black Belgians, mostly from the former Zaire were college graduated at 80% versus 11% for ethnic Belgians because they could only be eligible as collegs, hence they constitute the elite and were perceived differently, many of them living in the posh area with diplomats and sending their children in elite schools.

    So everytime those mamas went to those boutiques during the summer, sellers would just run to them with a big smile on their face neglecting the all white ethnical belgian Customer.

    Again class more than racism. Not to say that individually those sellers are not racist, but they are Professional so they would hide it and adopt a behvaiour according the economic class you ooze.

    I also had the experience getting in one of those boutiques and i was ignored and looked down while the seller didn’t reply to many of my demands preferring focusing on other costumers. I told my sis who knew the shop and told me that in that shop, wether black or white, you have to dress up. I went back , just two days later all dressed up and the seller run to me with a smile on her face forgetting i was the same person she barely acknowledged and look down two days ago. The same happen in many clubs.

    There is racism, more in certain countries than others but most of the time boytique experience it’s a class thing or the whole basic stereotype based on physical appearances…Trust me it happened as much as racism…if you are beautiful, thin and well dressed with taste, you fit the mold and will likely be greatly greeted.

    Hell, even languages can trigger that type of uncall reaction. I live in Brussels a bi lingual city, if i go to Antwerp and speak french instead of dutch i may be insulted in my own country wether Black or White whereas an American speaking English will be greatly accepted.

    I know that certain sellers look down and at times mock costumers who don’t speak their native languages…i see this sometimes in France.

    So again, i will tend with class because again, in Europe you could just shout racism and they will freak out. Like my sister who isn’t one to cave in.

    She is a an elite scientist and was working very late one day, she was tired and tense and went to a store buying some food then as she was about to pay for it, opening her bag, the employee saw some product that wasn’t even sold in that shop and that she previously bought…he didn’t even asked her about it, but grabbed her bag aggressively and take it out after she had picked her wallet. He then accused her in front of the other customers to steal. She picked the ticket proving it was bought somewhere else and even told him this product wasn’t even sold in here. She unleased the rage, poured him with heavy insults in front of everyone for like 10 minutes, telling him to back off from her bag, belittling him saying he was an imbecile who didn’t know his job properly, that he shouldn’t dare to show any traces of racsim to her face by doing ‘le délit de facies’ because she was Black,…he was shocked, ashamed, pale, trembling and couldn’t speak anymore …i thought he was about to cry …lol… His colleagues stopped their own task and came quickly asking, pleading my sis to forgive him…She received personal appology from the owner and a rebate.

    Im sure he didn’t sleep well that night. I think he will never do that again to a black woman…lol

    • Cazzee says:

      “She unleased the rage, poured him with heavy insults in front of everyone for like 10 minutes, telling him to back off from her bag, belittling him saying he was an imbecile who didn’t know his job properly, that he shouldn’t dare to show any traces of racsim to her face by doing ‘le délit de facies’ because she was Black,…he was shocked, ashamed, pale, trembling and couldn’t speak anymore …i thought he was about to cry…”

      OMG I wish I had seen this! What an epic takedown.

      Your sister sounds awesome.

    • LaurieH says:

      This is my thought and what I experienced, as an American, living in England. I was treated very well wherever I went because it was assumed I had money. It is very weird for an American to go to live in a class-based society, where how I dressed and spoke and even how I walked was subconsciously used in determining how I was to be treated; which isn’t to say that America doesn’t have classes, but we are VERY quick to pull someone down from their hoity-toity high horse. As to the language barrier – yes, there are some places you can go where, if you don’t speak the language, you will not be treated the same….even in America. Try going to Miami sometime.

    • Greta says:

      Thank you our Belgian friend for taking the time to educate us! I agree with your point of view. However, I did not know about the different attitudes among the many peoples of Europe. Indeed, I was in your city while visiting my Belgian pal living now in Antwerp. I will never forget her command to me as I packed for my trip, “no tennis shoes, no Ugg boots! boots tucked into jeans” was the autumn outfit du jour…and because she spoke the language and I dressed “normally”, we were well received everywhere. But one universal thing helps in difficult circumstances…a friendly smile!

  70. Kelly says:

    Sounds like a horrible bag to begin with and yes it sounds like Oprah is being over sensitive.

  71. A says:

    As a black woman, I am done defending white feminists against sexism.
    Next time the only words you’ll hear from me are “Stop playing the sexist card!”, “Maybe he has tourettes syndrome”, “Was he *really* touching you inappropriately or was he just trying to check what material you were wearing, he could be a fashion student, heck, maybe he’s gay! Why do you think everything is about you!?”, “Stop being so sensitive and get that chip off your shoulder while you’re at it” etc

    Yes, sexism affects black women too, but it’s called intersectionality for a reason. Sexism + racism.
    I’m just sick of hearing all these excuses and the not so subtle racism towards Oprah because she dares be black, a woman, and rich! How dare she not be a mammy 24/7!

  72. Jennyboo says:

    Oprah said herself she wasn’t dressed in anything expensive. If you walk into any upmarket shop in the world and you don’t look the part, you’re gonna get turned down. Nothing to do with racism/sexism. Sounds to me like Oprah is miffed because she didn’t get recognized.

    • UsedToBeLulu says:

      Yeah.

      ‘It was however uncommon for that to happen to me. Believe me, usually sales people rejoice when I come to them in their business. It is very unusual that I’m not really involved when in a boutique. Outside, people usually press their noses flat against the windows to see me shopping.

      I think that is some fairly good evidence of her diva-ishness in those sentences.

      • Cazzee says:

        Wow. Just, wow.

        There is so much ego in that statement that it’s almost frightening. I’d read before that Oprah surrounds herself with Yes people who kiss her butt all the livelong day but this is something else.

        Also, ‘Rejoice’ is a religious term. Does Oprah think she’s some kind of deity??

      • jwoolman says:

        That isn’t a sign of diva-ish thinking. I can imagine Oprah smiling and laughing as she said it. She knows she wasn’t trying to be recognized in Zurich and probably enjoyed the secret shopper aspect. But it’s also true that it would be hard to pull off in the USA. Her face (even not in full Oprah styled mode) and her voice are too well known, even among people who haven’t watched her shows.

  73. TheOriginalKitten says:

    I could see it being a case of racism, I could also see it being a case of classism.

    Either way, I don’t understand why anyone would shop in those frou-frou stores at all. It’s all so elitist and off-putting to me. Meh…

    • Kiddo says:

      Me too! Where have you been? Your common sense has been missing on multiple pages.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        Aw thanks, Kiddo 😉

        I’m all tied up with annoying crap like work and I’m trying to buy a condo (finally) in Boston, which is…the most painful and depressing experience.

        I wish Oprah would buy me something nice on the waterfront, preferably a townhouse. Maybe she’d let me sell one of her vintage Hermes bags for a down-payment?

      • Kiddo says:

        Chin up, good luck.

  74. Kiddo says:

    Oh for crissakes, all of them should shut it, including Oprah. I just read this:

    ‘…. Believe me, usually sales people rejoice when I come to them in their business. It is very unusual that I’m not really involved when in a boutique. Outside, people usually press their noses flat against the windows to see me shopping.’

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2392778/Oprah-Winfrey-insists-WAS-victim-racism-Swiss-store-nearly-called-Jennifer-Aniston-tell-her.html#ixzz2bySfrheR

    It may have been racism, classism, snobbery, as I’ve said for three days straight, but for the love of everything good and common decency, did Oprah really have to reply to the shopkeeper with a statement bordering on a messiah complex?

    #enoughalready

  75. mamabear says:

    A saleperson who doesn’t want to make money on a $38,000 bag is an idiot.

  76. The Original G says:

    Refresh my memory when we all got sooooo judgey about the purchases and interests of rich white men?

    • Missy says:

      Ummmmmm never. Lol.

      • Kiddo says:

        Not true. Johnny Depp caught a bunch a shit bragging about his island, for one example. Whenever someone comes across as tone-deaf to the plight/realities of the vast majority of common people, it’s fair game. Rich people have been judging poor people since the beginning of time. Usually it involves the thought process of “They are poor because they are lazy”.

  77. bravocueen says:

    I DESPISE Oprah. My husband described to me the disdainful and dismissive way she treated him and his fellow soldiers while they were providing civillian support immediately after Hurricane Katrina. DESPITE what she would have one to believe, she is an elitist. Do I think racism or elitism is right? No. But I think she got treated in kind to the way she treats a LOT of people she deems beneath her. . .that is, when the cameras aren’t rolling.

  78. Addie says:

    Shame on Oprah for politicizing and racially charging what was a non event. It makes her look like a jerk as opposed to her “image” as a sophistocated cultural leader and international business woman.
    Double shame for admitting that she buys
    $37,000.00 handbags. Gross, shameless, disgusting.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      @ Addie: Yeah, shame on Oprah, for giving an example of how even a wealthy black woman experiences everyday ‘casual’ racism. Perhaps race relations would improve, if black people lightened up a bit.

      • Nev says:

        Lightened up. Is that what you suggested? How sad.

        Go tell a Jew to lighten up and then walk into a Black church and tell them all to lighten up and come tell me how your brilliant suggestion came across.

        Your as wrong as the sales clerk herself.

      • Sloane Wyatt says:

        @Nev: I should have used my sarcastic font. The many, many comments blaming Oprah for being ‘oversensitive’ are just so blatantly ripe for deadpan ridicule and disgust.

  79. Kosmos says:

    There’s no way to prove what exactly happened, and both parties have different explanations. Oprah would be right in complaining if this happened the way she described, but, if not, then the shop owner and salesperson were correct. I don’t see a way to really know how it came down unless there had been a recording device or a witness present.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      @Kosmos and @JudyK: Oprah has no motive to make up or ‘misinterpret’ this racist incident because she has enough FU money for her movie “The Butler” to fail.

      In fact, the reality is that the race card is not much of a card to play, sort of like playing the two of diamonds. This is because it probably doesn’t do any good to bring it up. Why? For starters, very few whites (as few as 6% according to some recent polls) believe that it is a “very serious problem.”

      “While folks of color consistently articulate their belief that racism is a real and persistent presence in their own lives, these claims have had very little effect on white attitudes. As such, how could anyone believe that people of color would somehow pull the claim out of their hat, as if it were guaranteed to make white America sit up and take notice? If anything, it is likely to be ignored, or even attacked, and in a particularly vicious manner.” – Tim Wise http://www.timwise.org/

  80. JudyK says:

    You can bring on the hate…I’m so over Oprah. So she didn’t “report” the so-called racism…oh, Great One, you are even Greater than we ever imagined. This sucks of opportunism in regard to the new movie and self importance (something that always puts me in Rigormortis mode).

    $38,000 for a new bag…that would MORE than buy a great car/SUV for a normal person. I can’t stand this kind of grandstanding and oppulence…a new bag or a NEW CAR…it makes me GAG. Even if I had all the money in the world, my “social conscience” would NEVER allow me to be that self-absorbed and self-important. Again, GAG.

    • Bijlee says:

      That 38K could pay 3 years tuition at a state school and probably most of a years tuition at a high end private school.

      Just one crocodile bag. Just one. If only I had four.

  81. St says:

    Sorry but I disagree. Oprah is american superstar, superpowerful person who was promoting her movie and told that story how they are all racists in Europe and Switzerland in particular. Of course it would be worldwide news sensation 5 minutes later. Oprah perfectly knew it. And still went with it story. Of course store owners would have to come and defend themselves. Even if Oprah did not call names. Which is even worse. Because she made it look like there are snob racists live in Switzerland.

    If she would tell that story about Croatia, Norway, Latvia or any other European country then those countries would issue statements immediately. Because whole world is thinking that they are racists.

    So please – don’t make excuses. About how saint Oprah did not call names and stupid Switzerland blew it out of proportion. She came with that story, she perfectly knew how it will be handled in press. Because american media will be all over that news because they love stories about racism. And so European media will catch that news 2 hours later.

    Oprah is powerful person. And she attacked that poor saleswoman because she did not recognize her and did not fall on her knees from praise because mighty Oprah came to her store. And don’t chase words. Oprah made it look like racism to the whole world. While promoting her damn movie. Shame on Oprah for it.

    Wasn’t it enough that americans are so crazy about racism and homophobe accusations (when they will accuse and bully to death anyone for any word they won’t like). Now they put their crazy obsession on Europe.

    • blaize says:

      “Wasn’t it enough that americans are so crazy about racism and homophobe accusations (when they will accuse and bully to death anyone for any word they won’t like). Now they put their crazy obsession on Europe.”

      What a snobby, privileged, insensitive thing to say. Racism and homophobia are serious issues, and anyone who shows such a mentality DESERVES to be called on it. So if you call speaking out against such issues “Putting a crazy obsession on Europe,” Then I say bring on the ‘crazy obsession’. The words we say about people have a major impact on society.

    • Caroline says:

      Are you seriously DEFENDING racism?

      The boutique owner’s response endorsed the salesperson’s prejudicial attitude. I am absolutely disgusted that you cannot recognize this attitude, which exists regardless of the financial status of an individual. This occurs so much in everyday life that we should praise Oprah for having the courage to speak out regarding this sensitive issue!!!

  82. aquarius64 says:

    Frau Goetz is upset that her little boutique and her employee are slammed by the international news media and by members of the Swiss government. She’s probably afraid she’s going to lose business over this mess so she’s taking the best defense is a good offense approach. Not working though.

  83. jwoolman says:

    I’m not convinced it was good old’ American racism, since Oprah’s radar for that could easily be off the mark in other cultures. But clearly there were a lot of other -isms in play here and i think she was indeed tuned in to the fact that she was being treated differently because she didn’t fit some preconceived notion of what a rich customer should look like. A clerk engaged in profiling (undoubtedly a standard practice in that store) and grossly misgauged the ability of a potential customer to pay. Worse, she made that potential customer feel it was pointless to even continue to shop there and lost a huge sale and any future sales to the customer and anyone the customer might have recommended to the store. And yet the store has been so busy trying to prove it wasn’t racist, they’ve been ignoring the useful information about how their practices are perceived and what kind of an effect it has on their bottom line.

    How hard would it be for the owner to just say sorry for all the misunderstanding, we will look into our training procedures to make sure no one else leaves our store feeling as you did? How hard is it to tell sales people to just tell the customer the price of an item, politely let them know about any special procedures required (gloves, credit card on file, whatever), and ask them politely if they would first like to look at similar items more easily accessible to make sure they are still interested? They had a nicely dressed woman in front of them who was clearly interested in that specific item and wanted to see it up close before buying. Have they never seen an American before? If they deal with international clientele, why don’t they know that rich Americans are unlikely to fit a profile designed for old rich Europeans? Oprah could have bought the whole store, but their profiling dudn’t pick up on that. The whole response to Oprah’s relating HER reaction to how she was treated (without even naming them) shows no business sense in today’s multicultural world. Oprah’s reaction was real and valid- the clerk made assumptions about her based on how she looked, whether or not skin color was part of the assessment, and lost a massive sale as a result. They’re focusing on the wrong part of the story, falling all over themselves to convince us that they are not “racist like Americans” when actually they sure are a bunch of other -ists and IT COST THEM A BUNDLE OF MONEY.

  84. flipflop says:

    I image searched the purse. Wow, it totally doesn’t look like it’s worth 35000. Actually, it completely blows my mind that anyone would pay that much for any purse. But, that boring purse? I don’t know what I expected… but it wasn’t that.

    Maybe a crap ton of people have asked about the purse and fell over when they heard the price?

  85. lena80 says:

    I love reading all the comments from SOME White people proclaiming it was ONLY classism and how it’s happened to them before…I mean that’s awful, but now IMAGINE being perceived as a poor Black person. Dismissing her perception of the event because YOU haven’t experienced it doesn’t negate her experience. Classism and Racism go hand in hand for racial minorities. Just because the clerk didn’t scream “Die Black Biatch” while burning a cross and wearing hood doesn’t mean she didn’t have a preconceived notion about Oprah when she walked in.

    • BestJess says:

      Well I made a similar comment but I do not negate the possibility that it WAS racism and class snobbery but there’s only evidence of one of those.

    • judyjudyjudy says:

      then have the guts to actually address one of them instead of smearing everyone.

  86. Sand says:

    I know I’m late to the party but nobody has mentioned that in these high end stores, would it not be reasonable to assume that they have security cameras on at all times? Maybe that would show what really happened?

    • Sand says:

      We see video of absolutely everything!! Why is no one asking to see the security camera video? Why is this being ignored?

  87. erika says:

    jaysus, opie……causing international incidents is what happens when you THINK TOO HIGHLY of yourself!

    really…really!?!? i’ve been slighted before in my life, and I’m justa whitebread/frozen yogurt white girl from the burbs….did you see me pitch a fit about being discriminated against because of MY skin color/gender/economic and or educational class?

    this is ridiculous.

  88. Dirty Martini says:

    I have come to the conclusion this is a story of mutual cultural incompetence.

    The Swiss store/employees don’t understand the racial sensitivities in African Americans; Oprah doesn’t understamd / personalized the Swiss snobbery shopping experience.

    Move on everyone and get over yourselves. Reflect, learn, adapt.

    But pls move on

    I almost prefer another Brandi / Lee Ann post.

    • judyjudyjudy says:

      ugh, those two should be banned from ever being discussed again anywhere by anyone. repulsive.

      At least this is an actual important topic.

  89. Mikunda says:

    Give me a break. If she was dressed in “Walmart” clothes of course they would be hesitant to hand an expensive purse to her, what if she were a thief or something. These people have to be extra vigilant – one bag like that can make or break a store. And in Europe it’s easy to grab and run, happens every day.

    I am not siding with the owner, I think that Italian woman was rude indeed, but I really think the “racist” comment was way over the top.

    Similar thing happened to me in Manhattan so yes, suck it up, it happens everywhere in the world.

    • lena80 says:

      That’s the problem…all people who dress in “walmart” clothes aren’t thieves. Now imagine being seen as poor AND Black. Classism with Racism, it’s not that hard to grasp

  90. d b says:

    I feel like the sales woman outed herself – any idiot would know she was redirecting Oprah to less expensive bags, so the clear implication is she didn’t think Op had the $. Now, whether that was because Oprah is African American, or American, or heavy or older or sales lady had a headache or whatever — who knows. But Trudy and saleswoman both need to shut their pie holes about it. Oprah mentioned the incident in passing, and did not name the store or the identity of the saleswoman. These two nimrods have done this to themselves

  91. Nan says:

    That boutique owner – ugh — she’s essentially saying, ‘But I’m a snob, not a racist!’. So quit your whining then, lady, because you asked for it, didn’t you? It doesn’t really matter what your snobbery was taken for because it was offensive, period.

  92. BestJess says:

    Despite my income the same thing happens to me when I go into posh stores. I only ever go to them to buy for other people, I couldn’t give a toss about designer brands. I wear Target a lot and heaps of second hand. I never have manicured nails, I have tattoos and my hair is wild and never polished looking. The staff in snooty shops tend to assume I’m poor and treat me in this EXACT manner even though there’s few on the planet whiter than me. I strongly suspect this was class snobbery not racism. Had Oprah been wearing a few labels or ostentatious expensive jewellery then it wouldn’t have happened.

    • marina says:

      I agree. I’m as white as you can get with blonde hair and green eyes. I stopped in a nice clothing shop after the gym once with a baseball cap and sweats on and was followed all over the store by security. I was pissed. If it happened all the time it would get old fast.

  93. Jennie says:

    Oprah is very famous and has lots of fans, so what she says is golden. No one will dispute what she believes and says is not the truth.

    She is also way to savvy to know that whatever she says is going to be a “big deal” in the media and everyone (many) will rally around Oprah.

    There is no absolute truth that what she experienced in Switzerland is racism or just a big misunderstanding.

    I think it is very unfair of Oprah to assume the saleswoman was racist. Maybe Oprah was peeved she wasn’t fawned over and recognized.

    She’s also in a movie that’s “conveniently” coming out soon and she is getting a lot more press than if this misunderstanding wasn’t blown out of proportion.

  94. DKN says:

    The sheer volume of comments and the vitriol surrounding this issue clearly indicates that race remains a significant factor in our society whether or not we openly acknowledge it. It is naive to think otherwise. To say that Oprah deserved this is appalling.

  95. marina says:

    I find the timing of Oprah sharing the story to be suspect. This happened in July, but now that she is promoting The Butler, she feels the need to tell us about how poor Oprah was mistreated by a white salesgirl. I’m not buying it. Someone working in a shop like that knows she needs to kiss rich a$$ all the time.

    But yes, there is a sh*t ton of racism in the US and abroad. I don’t live in a bubble. I see it every day.

  96. SueAnn says:

    This is so stupid. Not racism. Everyone cries racism all the time. Want to know who is a huge racist? Jamiee Fox. He can give interviews about killing white people and America loves it. To me that shows racism towards the people that everyone claims is racist! Get over it Oprah! She didn’t want to show you the bag because you were dressed like a bag lady, not because you are black!

    • lena80 says:

      One. Racial minorities can’t be racist. There is a White power structure around the world. Racial minorities CAN be prejudiced and act on that. Two. Please post the source of when Jamie Foxx said he wanted to kill White people. He has two bi-racial daughters and even wore a t-shirt in memory of the kids who were murdered in Newton (even Faux news focused on his Trayvon shirt). Three. If you aren’t a racial minority who has gone through the unfortunate experience of shopping while Black, Asian, Hispanic, etc.. you really can’t just say ‘get over it’ If O was White and perceived as poor (which many White have experienced) it’s discrimination. Now let’s take into account that she is Black on top of being perceived as poor. It’s not that hard to grasp. Classism and Racism go hand in hand for racial minorities and it happens all over the world.

  97. Laine LaConner says:

    Oprah is awesome! However, she is very selfish. I imagine that she is racist and wants to make a New cause. Perchance she is in agreement with Obama with his BS. Not happy with her still around.

  98. Laine LaConner says:

    Oprah is awesome! However, she is very selfish. I imagine that she is racist and wants to make a New cause. Perchance she is in agreement with Obama with his BS. Not happy with her still around. F.N. Race Card.

  99. ux says:

    Oprah has a tendency to mildly twist the truth for the sake of a good story. Heck she even promoted writers and books that did the same.

    I think that in this case, she believed that a little white lie (pun intended) would press the message she wanted to convey and it took on larger proportions than she expected. That is why she never named names and why she has been trying to downplay it since she made the statement.

  100. Meanchick says:

    The shop owner and the poor wittle salesgirl will sue. I can see that happening. They made it a big deal and will claim it hurt them personally and professionally and sue. Opportunists.

  101. judyjudyjudy says:

    this has been fun. so many “posters” so ready to jump to conclusions and smear one or the other. PLEASE skip jury duty people. Nobody would have a chance.

    no lol, sadly.

    • ceilin says:

      This is a gossip site. If you are offended by biased, often judgmental opinions you are in the wrong place.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        well golly I sure am glad someone with your IQ was here to explain that to me! LOL.

        One can gossip without being an unhinged nutter. Really. Try it!

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      @judyjudyjudy: “PLEASE skip jury duty people.” *laughing in recognition*

      I didn’t skip jury duty and managed to turn the whole jury from a ‘guilty’ to a ‘not guilty’.

      A cop rear ended a guy on his way to the hardware store. The backup cops arrived some time later, and while they’re chit chatting guy walks across the street to get his parts at the hardware store. Then, the cops smell liquor on his breath and decide to search him. Finding an open pint in his jean jacket, they all testified he failed field sobriety tests. The guy refuses a breathalyzer and says he was dead sober until he opened the pint after his car was hit by the cop car. Then, they charged the poor sap on a DUI and open container violation and hauled him down to the police station.

      The cops further all testified the breath test machine at the Police Station was mysteriously broken when he was alcohol tested more than an hour later. Turns out the guy could prove he wasn’t illegally drinking because he had a time stamped receipt (from the liquor store right next to the hardware store)showing he bought the newly opened pint AFTER the cop rear ended him.

    • Kiddo says:

      People have opinions and that’s what they are sharing. Even jurors aren’t blank slates, they are humans and sometimes they are even selected because of particular backgrounds and baggage. They are told to deliberate based solely on evidence admitted and the law. We don’t have that here. See the thing is, no one gets convicted, pays a judgement, and/or serves time based on a gossip site. That’s why trials aren’t held on blogs.

      And I would say also that a good portion of the people here said, “Probably” or “Maybe”, “in my opinion”, “I think” , “perhaps”, etc, in prefacing their opinions anyway.

      • judyjudyjudy says:

        my, how defensive you are! And wrong, Many many smears on both threads. This site encourages unhinged and nasty comments and always has.

  102. jwoolman says:

    I wonder if the real reason for the shop owner’s peculiar reaction is the Tina Turner connection. She’s close enough to be invited to the wedding. Wonder if Tina drops a lot of cash in her shop and has stopped or the woman thinks she will? Oprah didn’t name the shop or go ballistic, she just answered a question about her experiences. Oprah isn’t stupid, she knows it’s unlikely that she would be recognized under those circumstances and she made no effort to identify herself except as an interested potential customer. But for whatever the reason, the clerk made a billionaire customer feel bad enough to take her money elsewhere. That’s not only an immediate lost sale – it’s also a loss of potential sales later from that customer and her friends to whom she would recommend the store privately. It makes no sense for the owner to trash Oprah as she has done- unless she’s not really talking to us but (through media) to Tina. Obviously the woman hasn’t a clue about how stupid and snobby this makes her look, but maybe she’s just focused on one person, Tina Turner.

  103. Kiddo says:

    I will just add that people went crazy over the way Oprah was treated, but some of those same people thought that bias/prejudice against a “homeless person” or “someone who looked like a homeless person” was just swell, including Oprah. So for some here, it’s okay to discriminate against someone who looks like they have no where to live. Okay then. Carry on. Anyway, I don’t even know why I am still commenting here, I am done with this, shame on me.