Posted on 06/24/2005 10:45:33 AM PDT by TightyRighty
Oprah Winfrey may be the world's most powerful celebrity, as well as the reigning Queen of Daytime, but apparently those titles hold little sway with Hermes.
The luxury goods retailer has issued a red-faced apology after refusing the talk-show host entry to one of its Paris boutiques last week.
According to a statement from Hermes, Winfrey and "an entourage" tried to enter the Hermes boutique on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore at about 6:45 p.m. on June 14.
Though the store's normal closing time is 6:30 p.m., many high-end retailers routinely make exceptions for celebrities and other VIPs. However, according to Hermes, the boutique was in the midst of setting up "a private public relations event" at the time Winfrey stopped by.
"Hermes regrets not having been able to welcome Madame Oprah Winfrey and the people accompanying her to give them all the attention and service that Hermes is committed to giving each of its clients in the world," said the statement. "Hermes expresses its sincere regrets for any misunderstanding that these circumstances could have caused."
However, Gayle King, a pal of Winfrey's, who was with her at the time of the incident, disputes Hermes' version of events.
"People were in the store and they were shopping. Oprah was at the door and she was not allowed into the store," King told Entertainment Tonight. "Oprah describes it herself as 'one of the most humiliating moments of her life.' "
Not that Winfrey is letting the incident keep her down.
"She's really okay," King said. "Her position is, 'I will shop where people appreciate my business, and I don't believe that any longer includes Hermes.' "
Winfrey's Chicago-based Harpo Productions confirmed that the daytime diva canceled a recent order for one of Hermes' Birkin bags following the incident. The exclusive purses can cost as much as $6,500 and Winfrey reportedly already owns a dozen of them.
Winfrey also informed Robert Chavez, the American president of Hermes, that she would no longer be patronizing his stores.
Meanwhile, though The Oprah Winfrey Show is currently on hiatus, a spokesperson for the show confirmed that Winfrey plans to devote a show to her "Crash moment" in September.
Crash, which stars Don Cheadle and is currently in theaters, paints a bleak picture of racial intolerance.
Last week, Winfrey was named number one on Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100, up from her 2004 standing of number three. Her 12-month earnings were estimated at a hefty $225 million.
And that would buy a lot of bags. Too bad, Hermes.
I don't approve of Oprah's actions. The store basically turned away from your store one of the richest people in the world. Not a wise business move. As Julia Roberts put it in Pretty Woman, "Big mistake. Huge!!"
*sigh*
I sure am thankful that I don't have to live the tough life like Oprah.
Her "entourage" sounds like a lot of hanger ons who probably don't even buy anything. Sounds like another H'weirdo rampage.
I can think of no place less I'd want to go to decorate my home.
Hermes is more or less privately owned.
My thinking is that Oprah hasn't been vocal about this incident yet, which is a good thing. She could play the prima dona, poor mistreated, racially profiled me - but she hasn't, yet. Any other celeb would have.
I think Oprah has risen above it to a large degree. Let's see the segment she plans for her Oprah show.
However, according to Hermes, the boutique was in the midst of setting up "a private public relations event" at the time Winfrey stopped by.
Sounds like they succeeded...
(BTW, what is a "private public" relations event?)
She's running yet another sideline?
(BTW, what is a "private public" relations event?)
Invitation only to members of the press. Public relations means "media event" and private means just those invited.
From the history she's shared with us, I should think this would rate rather low on a normal person's scale.
hm. Gettin' pretty shallow, I'd say.
"Though the store's normal closing time is 6:30 p.m., many high-end retailers routinely make exceptions for celebrities and other VIPs."
Yeah, the elite deserve special treatment.
How dare you not Oprah when you closed for us peons!
they did?
Wow. Um....Oprah may be right on this one then.
"Imagine, being turned away from Hermes is more humiliating than the girlhood rape she experienced."
Or finding out you're a Zulu. I'm surprised---"O" being so chummy with Tom Cruise and his newest movie coming out---that she isn't insisting that she's also seen Martians.
We're closed, please come back during store hours. You simpering hog.
Hey Oprah........BUY AMERICAN
LOL.
If I was a stockholder of Hermes, I would be furious. Oprah has lots of friends, and this will be bad for business.
-"Oprah describes it herself as 'one of the most humiliating moments of her life.' "-
Uh-oh...look for Oprah to put on about 30 pounds over this one.
Now, Oprah and Gail (aka, this ain't Hartford, CT), with a taste of cultured "continental" jazz might now appreicate "those shores of the US."
Also, perhaps these "women of color" might do a bit more homework ... especially regarding France and her former colonies ... Ooops ... like in oppression!!!
And Paris might just might have a very different "time line" ... more at 11 PM ... Gosh, they might turn up at Antibes' Harry's ... Merde!
Money don't buy class nor true understanding of the "human" condition ... whatever, wherever it is ...
Humiliation=they didn't know who I am, they didn't fall on their knees and fawn.
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