Note to retailers: DO NOT PISS OFF OPRAH

[CatWoman]

Store rebuffs Oprah at closing time

News reports
Published on: 06/23/05

You know how it is: You've got to buy a watch for Tina Turner, but you're running late. The store's closed, but, hey, you're Oprah Winfrey. Shouldn't that count?

Apparently not. The Queen of All Media was denied entrance to Hermes in Paris last weekend at closing time, the New York Daily News reported. According to one report, Hermes staffers rebuffed Winfrey because they didn't recognize her and because they'd been "having a problem with North Africans lately." But friends of Oprah say that's bunk: "They specifically said, 'We know who you are."'

Store officials issued an apology today.

The News reports that Oprah has called the president of Hermes in America to inform him that she will no longer be shopping there. She also may share the incident with her 22 million-plus viewers. Hermes is about to find out there is such a thing as bad publicity.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0605/23winfrey.html

[Shell Beau]

1. Well I am not sure which version of this story is true (I've

heard a couple), but if anyone is denied access to a store based on their skin color, then they have a right to be pissed. Oprah was probably going to spend mega bucks in there plus she is not used to being told "no"!!

[BiggJawn]

26. The link is a new version.

The one I read yesterday said that Hermes was closed and preparing for a "pivate event".

Now today, we have the Almighty "O" threatening to tell her 22,000,000 member Army "not to shop at Hermes"...

Oh? Please to tell me, oh Divine One, just how many of your 22 Megafans were planning to shop at Hermes to find that perfect item for their double-wide this week, anyway?

Now I understand Stedman a little...

[Jokerman]

2. Screw Oprah!

If she were complaining about poor treatment that would be one thing but this is all about her being refused special treatment.

If the store is closed for me, it should be closed for Oprah.

[Shell Beau]

3. I agree but if they didn't let her in b/c

they "have been having trouble with North Africans" then that is another story!

[enigmatic]

9. That's not what Oprah's friends said:

From the article:

"According to one report, Hermes staffers rebuffed Winfrey because they didn't recognize her and because they'd been "having a problem with North Africans lately." But friends of Oprah say that's bunk: "They specifically said, 'We know who you are."'

[Shell Beau]

12. I know but I've heard that the store said that and

that friend's of hers have stated the other. I don't know what happened that is why I am saying it is no big deal if they just didn't let her in, but if they said that about the Africans, then she has a reason to be pissed. There are different versions of this story going around, so I am waiting to hear a confirmation before I make a judgment.

[HEyHEY]

31. She's not even North African - she's from Chicago!

[bliss_eternal]

28. Thank YOU!

I humbly agree--on both counts, especially screw Oprah. I am beyond sick of her.

ANYONE going to a store, restaurant,etc. after closing and expecting special treatment is an asshole, imo.

[edbermac]

4. I wouldn't piss off Oprah...I'd piss ON her...

:rofl:

[radwriter0555]

5. That oughta teach em! After all the 12 Oprah watchers that shop at Hermes

will NO longer shop there ever again!

[Mutley]

6. If she was denied entry because of her skin color that is one thing

but when a store is closed, IT'S CLOSED! The people who work there just want to go home for crying out loud. I've been threated by people who come to my store as I'm walking out the door for the night because I won't let them in.

[oldcoot]

10. I agree

The people who work in stores are real people with families and lives. It is too bad that the jerks who threaten you for not letting them shop after hours.

[Mutley]

14. It's fine. Luckily my boss doesn't blame us when those people call

and complain about us.

[enigmatic]

7. God, I hate this shit

If the fucking store is closed, it's closed. Even for Oprah. And if she's going to tell everyone to boycott because they had the audacity to not open the store for her, then she's a spoiled child.

[johnnie]

8. I agree

It's not like she is Elvis.

[neuvocat]

13. Elvis is everywhere. Oprah is not.

[Zuni]

11. If she was denied acess because she is black

then I would be really mad as well and I would trash Hermes all over the media.

But if she was denied entry because they were closing, and she expects special treatment because she is rich and famous, then fuck Oprah

[Shell Beau]

15. That is exactly my opinion!!!

[Zuni]

16. yay!

:woohoo:

[Scout1071]

17. Sorry, but I'm going to stand with Oprah on this one.

She seems to do a lot of good in this world and I'm sure as shit going to take her word on this situation. It would seem far from her character to make assumptions and unfounded accusations. If she says that they discriminated against her, then so be it.

And no, I work during the day, so I don't watch her show often. But when I do, I'm usually impressed. I think she really does want to make this world a better place.

I'm sure plenty will disagree with my assessment, and so be it.

Have a lovely day.

[friesianrider]

19. Oh please.

(this is not directed at you btw :))

I'm sorry but so many people fawn all over Oprah like she does SOOO bloody much to save the world. Bullshit. She's got a gazillion bucks - she JUST OUGHT to use it to do some good in the world. What does it matter if I'm a broke college student but give $40 a month to my favorite charities, or she's a gazillionaire and gives $1 million a month to her favorite charities?

I'm not trying to knock on Oprah because no, she *doesn't* have to give her money to charities, but when you're that friggin rich I think you damn well ought to feel morally obligated to use some of your money for some good. Just because numerically she gives "more" than anyone else doesn't mean she's somehow doing so much good in the world. We ALL do our part - Oprah's not special. JMHO, of course - flame away if you want.

[bliss_eternal]

32. In support of what you are saying...

'it is just vulgar to have money and fame and do nothing with it...'

Sharon Stone

So yeah, what you said...

I used to be on the 'Oprah does so much for so many' bandwagon. I'm not anymore.

Fuck her...She really pisses me off.

[Scout1071]

38. I don't disagree. We all should be doing our part.

And it is all relative. $40 a month is a lot of people.

I think she's trying to make the world a better place - in general - and I'm not mad at her because she's wealthy. And frankly, it just seems like you are angry at her for being wealthy.

If I had that much money, I would be spending my days trying to make the world a better place. If I thought television was a medium towards doing just that, then I would absolutely use it. And if I slipped in some shopping and quality beach time - who gives a fuck?

[eleonora]

42. besides, whatever she gives is tax deductible n/t

what a sacrifice :sarcasm:

[Shell Beau]

21. I like Oprah, but many here do not! Just a warning!

[Dukkha]

18. Closed is Closed. Deal with it.

Sorry "O" but the world does not stop on a dime for billionaire prima donnas.

I dealt with people like that all the time when I managed a computer store. Some would even try to slide open the chain gate after we closed and locked up.

[Shell Beau]

20. Well to be fair (and kind of the devil's advocate),

stores like this open up for celebrities and millionaires all of the time!

[Blue-Jay]

23. because most retailers are fawning sycophants

Big O found a place that didn't treat her like she was "special" so she got pissed off. Next, she'll be throwing telephones at hotel employees.

[Shell Beau]

25. Russell Crowe... It reminds me of that South Park with

Russell Crowe and his tug boat. Russell Crowe beat up everyone. It was funny!

[Blue-Jay]

27. Fightin' around the world!

[Shell Beau]

40. Ha ha!!

:rofl:

[stanwyck]

22. I make a real effort to finish

up in plenty of time so employees don't have to wait on me. You have to plan. The best strategy, if you can swing it, is to be the first person in the store. Go right when they open. Nobody is there. Dressing rooms are clean. The employees aren't dead-tired. And you can find a parking space.
People who wander in five minutes before closing and then have dozens of questions and special requests are just inconsiderate.
Think how much differently our world would be if our legislators would have to live for a few years working in a regular job -- even working for minimum wage. Too many just have never worked for someone else. They have inherited wealth. They went from college to a cushy job which didn't actually require them to show up. (like Bush).
Their indifference and disdain is really wearing thin.

[nini]

24. ahhh a taste of what us little people have to live like

Target wouldn't let me in after it closed - though I wouldn't expect them to. :evilgrin:

I lost respect for her years ago. She is too self-promoting and fake to me.

[AlCzervik]

29. oh no!!! Looks like i can't shop at Hermes anymore!

and me with all this disposable income---:sarcasm:

[HEyHEY]

30. "WAAAAH! WAAAAHHH! Everyday mendicants won't do what I say"

"But friends of Oprah say that's bunk: "They specifically said, 'We know who you are."'

I think it's a little worse if they didn't let her in because they thought she was african.

[redqueen]

33. I hope her fans don't boycott because she was subject to the same rules

everyone else is.

This is fuckin ridiculous, is what this is.

[bliss_eternal]

34. What about being respectful of the culture of France...

It is deemed incredibly rude to enter a French store and not say hello or greet anyone there.

Let's imagine how rude it may be to come into a store fifteen minutes after closing, when they are preparing for a special event expecting special treatment...?

I think she is letting all this, 'most powerful woman in the world' shit go to her head.

I don't care how much money or fame you have, if you are lacking in simple social graces you are nothing, imo.

Oh and all the money and items she 'gives away'? That's nothing to her...everytime she mentions a company on her show they have to pay her---cha ching!

just screw her and her inability to relate to common, human consideration and respect for others.

[Jamastiene]

35. Sounds sort of odd that they would make a

comment quite like that. They could have just said they were closed or something. They didn't have to use a sort of racial slur as their reason. IMO, that was uncalled for and rude.

[LiberallyInclined]

36. are all that many oprah-viewers regular Hermes shoppers?

me thinks not.

[Cannikin]

41. That was my first thought

[warrior1]

37. Sorry CW

I didn't see your post.

My bad.

[Melynn]

39. I can't stand Oprah

I get the impression that she is a raving ego maniac.

[Rabrrrrrr]

43. I think Oprah should, finally and for all time, shut the fuck up

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. Thank you....from one who thinks she is the biggest PR experiment

of all time. :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

50. You're welcome! I haven't been able to stand her since she showed up

and did all the fake fucking crying with her guests and fake empathy and fake sympathy and fake caring and fake "Oh let me hug you and tell you that you are special and here let me cry with you - look at my tears! See me crying? This is me caring!"

I applaud her for her ability to make a billion bucks, and i even applaud her for her charitable giving.

But I think she's a total fake.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. And fake white dress only, applaud our elder women to the tune of

millions while watching me wear a screaming red dress! Man that really pissed me off. Maya Angelou is 6 thousand times the woman she is.

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. Store officials issued an apology for closing on time?

:shrug: Wow...

[nini]

45. Being a famous 'American' is probably why she wasn't let in

We all know how much the French love us these days.

[skygazer]

47. I find it impossible to believe that any store staffer or spokesperson

would say they've been "having a problem with North Africans lately."

Sorry but that sounds like pure bull to me - no one in a position to speak to the press would be stupid enough to say something like that (which is no doubt why it's couched in the vague "according to one report" format).

The store was closed. Good. I work retail and when it's time to go home, I want to go home. I don't care who the hell wants in. I don't feel that I'm better than anyone else and I sure as hell don't feel that anyone else is better than me.

[aeolian]

48. Hell, I'll buy a ticket to Paris specifically to shop there now.

Fuck Oprah and Dr. Phil. You show up at a store at closing time, you're gonna get turned away. That's why it's called "closing time."

[jmm]

49. I've found a new reason to boycott them

Forget the way they treated Oprah I just looked at the Hermes site and found these booties being sold for $100.