kikipeepers asked
Whether Oprah Winfrey was turned away from a bit of after-hours shopping in Paris because of a racist employee or a special event, news of the confrontation outside a luxury store has evoked empathy and anger from many American minorities. In living rooms and Internet chat rooms, the Winfrey case has sparked discussion of what many see as a chronic problem for minorities: poor treatment and sometimes outright suspicion of minority shoppers no matter how well-educated or rich they are — particularly in high-end stores. The incident occurred when Winfrey stopped by Hermes on June 14 to buy a watch minutes after the boutique closed. Though she and three friends said they saw shoppers inside, neither a sales clerk nor manager would let them in. Winfrey believes the store's staff had identified her, according to a spokeswoman from Harpo Production Inc. her company. Winfrey's friend, Gayle King, who was there, told Entertainment Tonight, 'Oprah describes it as 'one of the most humiliating moments of her life.'' Harpo says Winfrey plans to discuss the incident in the context of race relations on her show this fall. Hermes said in a statement it 'regrets not having been able to welcome' Winfrey to the store, but that 'a private public relations event was being prepared inside.'
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