Oprah gets Swiss apology for racist encounter | Story | Wonderwall

 

Winfrey was shopping at a boutique in Zurich, when she asked to look at a handbag the clerk told her she would rather look at another one because she could not afford that one. Oh BTW the bag she was wanting to look at was $38,000...$38,000 for a HANDBAG!!!

 

1. Stupid remark to make towards anyone, someone of color or not.

2. Stupid remark by a clerk who in all likelihood receives a commission on sales.

3. Really, there is someone in the civilized world that doesn't know Oprah?

 

 

Oprah made these remarks when asked during interviews for her new movie "The Butler" to tell of times she has faced racism.

Somebody tell me how that is racist? If my wife walked into that and looked at that bag would she say the same thing? 38k is a persons salary in America. Maybe she was saying it as to mean that the bag was way too much and not worth the money?

Somebody tell me how that is racist? If my wife walked into that and looked at that bag would she say the same thing? 38k is a persons salary in America. Maybe she was saying it as to mean that the bag was way too much and not worth the money?

 

Quit making excuses for it. It said the clerk told Oprah she couldn't afford it and tried to talk her down to a cheaper model. Simple as that.

 

Question: How would your wife be dressed if she were walking into this high-dollar boutique? Blinged-out and in dresses that cost more than I make in a year? Because I'm pretty sure Oprah was. There's a whole lot of racist Europeans, just like there's a whole lot of racist Americans. You should read up on how they treat African players on the soccer pitch, tossing bananas at them and such. Americans are a little more subtle about their racism.

I have routinely dressed down whenever making a large purchase, just as a test for the salesman. If buying something that is outside (car/truck) I only shop in the rain, if salesman can't come out and get wet they aren't getting my business. I've been ignored in jewelry stores and had salesmen motion for me to come in out of the rain to talk about a car...I never make a purchase under those circumstances now.

 

I have read that Oprah has done the same thing and then get's mad and makes a big case of it if she feels that she isn't being recognized. There was a story a few years ago where she initially said she wasn't allowed in a store because she was black in Paris (I think.) When the rest of the story came out she was mad because they didn't recognize her and let her in after the store had already closed for the day. She was there to buy Mink Eyelashes if I remember correctly.

Quit making excuses for it. It said the clerk told Oprah she couldn't afford it and tried to talk her down to a cheaper model. Simple as that.

 

Question: How would your wife be dressed if she were walking into this high-dollar boutique? Blinged-out and in dresses that cost more than I make in a year? Because I'm pretty sure Oprah was. There's a whole lot of racist Europeans, just like there's a whole lot of racist Americans. You should read up on how they treat African players on the soccer pitch, tossing bananas at them and such. Americans are a little more subtle about their racism.

 

That doesn't make it racist. It could of very well been she was dressed down and the clerk didn't think she could afford it because of the way she dressed,not because of her skin color.

Oprah and the View From Outside Hermes' Paris Door

 

Here is a story about a previous incident that she had.

Somebody tell me how that is racist? If my wife walked into that and looked at that bag would she say the same thing? 38k is a persons salary in America. Maybe she was saying it as to mean that the bag was way too much and not worth the money?

 

That doesn't make it racist. It could of very well been she was dressed down and the clerk didn't think she could afford it because of the way she dressed,not because of her skin color.

 

 

Happens to blacks a lot. One of the more common incidents of racism against blacks. I have to agree with Jim. You guys are making excuses for this behavior. If it wasn't racist why did they apologize?

Happens to blacks a lot. One of the more common incidents of racism against blacks. I have to agree with Jim. You guys are making excuses for this behavior. If it wasn't racist why did they apologize?

Don't you think to save face they would apologize to any customer that felt slighted regardless of the reason, especially if they were a celebrity customer that brings with them an entire news cycle of publicity.

I think it very likely could have been racism, but I don't believe it's a slam-dunk either.

 

The sales person is an idiot, though. If a customer is in a store that sells $38,000 handbags, then I would think that person probably has means to afford it. At least, that's how my simple mind looks at this.

Don't you think to save face they would apologize to any customer that felt slighted regardless of the reason, especially if they were a celebrity customer that brings with them an entire news cycle of publicity.

 

If it wasn't a racist act why wouldn't they simply defend themselves? If someone accused you of a racist act would apologize to save face or would you defend yourself properly against racist accusations? I would never apologize for something I didn't do.

I have routinely dressed down whenever making a large purchase, just as a test for the salesman. If buying something that is outside (car/truck) I only shop in the rain, if salesman can't come out and get wet they aren't getting my business. I've been ignored in jewelry stores and had salesmen motion for me to come in out of the rain to talk about a car...I never make a purchase under those circumstances now.

 

I have read that Oprah has done the same thing and then get's mad and makes a big case of it if she feels that she isn't being recognized. There was a story a few years ago where she initially said she wasn't allowed in a store because she was black in Paris (I think.) When the rest of the story came out she was mad because they didn't recognize her and let her in after the store had already closed for the day. She was there to buy Mink Eyelashes if I remember correctly.

 

I am always dressed down any time I'm shopping for anything & there have been a few times when sales people have ignored me as well. Or at best they might give a brief greeting & then go over to someone else who more looks the part. Someone not wearing UK shorts, a wrinkled tee-shirt & well-worn shoes.

 

The last car we purchased we did so with cash. $10,000 on the road. Salesman repeatedly asked, "Now, you're paying for this with cash, correct? All of it?" I wasn't offended, but I was amused. Can't really say I blame them. :lol2:

I can see the store not wanting just anybody to handle a $38,000 purse, but this was handled all wrong. I definitely think the clerk was assuming she couldn't afford it because she was black and worded in a degrading fashion.

 

Most stores hide their prices in their cases, because they want to force you to have to talk to a sales person. So if you're forced to deal with a sales person, they better sure as heck know how to inform someone of a price without making it sound negative. I can see a sales person saying, that is the nicest purse in the store, it's a bla-bla-bla the price is $38,000. Did you want to look at it? I personally wouldn't even want to touch it if I knew it was that much, but to Oprah, that's pocket change.

I think it very likely could have been racism, but I don't believe it's a slam-dunk either.

 

The sales person is an idiot, though. If a customer is in a store that sells $38,000 handbags, then I would think that person probably has means to afford it. At least, that's how my simple mind looks at this.

 

You are just 6 or 7 so chalk it up as a learning experience, kiddo.

 

Your last paragraph says it all. If a store is selling 38K handbags(just typing that seems stupid....38K handbag.....that's more than 98% of the cars in my employer's parking lot :lol:) then 99% of the people who walk into that store know there are 38K handbags and wouldn't be in there otherwise. I'd have to think the commission is probably pretty good in that store. There's a definitive reason that the clerk said that to Oprah and I'm pretty sure her clothes had nothing to do with it. I'm also thinking that Oprah was not alone at the time either. Surely she had at least some security around as well.

If it wasn't a racist act why wouldn't they simply defend themselves? If someone accused you of a racist act would apologize to save face or would you defend yourself properly against racist accusations? I would never apologize for something I didn't do.

 

That's a good point.

There's a definitive reason that the clerk said that to Oprah and I'm pretty sure her clothes had nothing to do with it. I'm also thinking that Oprah was not alone at the time either. Surely she had at least some security around as well.

 

These are all things I'd like to know. What was she wearing? Was anyone accompanying her?