What Did Hermes Do to Oprah?

What Did Hermes Do to Oprah?

Recently, Oprah Winfrey had an unpleasant experience while shopping at a Hermes store in Paris. The billionaire media mogul and philanthropist was apparently denied the opportunity to view a $38,000 handbag by a sales assistant. Despite showing interest in the bag and being a regular customer at the store, Oprah was told that she could not afford it.

The Incident

Oprah shared her experience while promoting her new film “The Butler” on Entertainment Tonight. She explained that she had asked to see the $38,000 crocodile skin bag but was told “No, it’s too expensive”. When she insisted on seeing the bag, the sales assistant refused to take it out of its locked case.

Oprah also revealed that she left the store without making any purchases and felt humiliated by the incident. She stated that she had been racially profiled by the sales assistant who assumed that she could not afford such an expensive item.

The Response

Hermes apologized for the incident and released a statement saying: “Hermes regrets not having been able to accommodate Ms. Winfrey and her team and provide her with the service and attention that Hermes is committed to providing each of its customers worldwide.”

The luxury brand also stated that they do not tolerate any form of discrimination or racial profiling in their stores and have taken steps to ensure that their sales associates are trained accordingly.

Racial Profiling

Racial profiling is a form of discrimination where individuals are Targeted or treated differently based on their race or ethnicity. It is a prevalent issue in many industries including retail where people of color are often subjected to suspicion or scrutiny based on their appearance.

The incident involving Oprah highlights the need for increased awareness and training to prevent racial profiling in stores. Brands must ensure that their employees are equipped with the necessary skills to provide quality service to all customers regardless of their race or ethnicity.

Conclusion

The incident involving Oprah and Hermes is a reminder that racial profiling can happen anywhere, even in high-end stores. While Hermes has apologized and taken steps to address the issue, it is important for all brands to prioritize diversity and inclusion in their operations.

  • Brands should provide training on diversity and inclusion for all employees
  • Customers should speak up if they experience discrimination
  • The media should continue to highlight instances of racial profiling to bring attention to the issue

By working together, we can create a more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and respected.