Does Oprah Have a History of Making Disputed Racism Claims?

[Wang Chung]

In 2005, Oprah Winfrey accused luxury store Hermes in Paris of turning her away when she stopped in to purchase an expensive watch for singer Tina Turner. A spokesperson for the TV personality later referred to the incident as her “crash moment.â€

“Crash†was a 2004 film that centered around the damaging effects of racism. The phrase “crash moment†refers to “situations where a party feels discriminated against on the basis of skin color,†CNN reported in 2005.
Does Oprah Have a History of Making Disputed Racism Claims?

The claim is extremely similar to Oprah’s recent claim of discrimination she supposedly experienced at a high-end boutique in Zurich, Switzerland. In that case, she says a sales assistant refused to show her a $38,000 handbag because it was too expensive for her. The sales assistant and the store manager have both strongly denied the allegations.

As it turned out, Oprah and her team arrived at Hermes at around 6:45 p.m. on June 14, 2005, which was about 15 minutes after the store had closed and was setting up a private PR event. A store spokesperson said a security guard informed the star that the store was closed. Oprah was given a card and told to come back the next day.

Surveillance footage of the exchange backed up the store’s account. Oprah apparently wanted the store to allow her to make a quick purchase, but was denied.

The New York Post, citing various sources close to Oprah, reported she was turned away because the store had been “having a problem with North Africans lately.â€

A Hermes spokesperson vehemently denied the allegation.

“There was never any discussion of North Africans,†she said. “The story is not true.â€

However, Hermes still ended up apologizing to Winfrey for the misunderstanding.

“Hermes regrets not having been able to accommodate Ms. Winfrey and her team and to provide her with the service and care that Hermes strives to provide to each and every one of its customers worldwide,†the store said in a 2005 statement. “Hermes apologizes for any offense taken due to such circumstances.â€

The CEO of the store also reportedly contacted Oprah’s team after the incident and invited her back to the store.

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UPDATE: Mediaite’s Noah Rothman points out that Oprah also claimed to be a victim of racial discrimination in 1998:

In 1998, when an Amarillo, Texas, jury ruled that Winfrey did not have to pay $11 million to a group of Lone Star State cattle ranchers who alleged that her show on Mad Cow Disease needlessly demeaned them and their industry, Winfrey claimed to be a victim of racial discrimination.

“I believed from the beginning this was an attempt to muzzle [my] voice,†Winfrey said. “I come from a people who have struggled and died in order to have a voice in this country, and I refuse to be muzzled.†Winfrey moved her show to Amarillo for the month of court proceedings.

Oprah needs to shut up with the racism crap. Why is it only in America that racism is and still is a huge thing but it is nothing in other countries? Maybe its because of idiots like this that keep claiming crap that isn't there.

 

[Fuji Vice]

Why is it only in America that racism is and still is a huge thing but it is nothing in other countries?

Trust me, racism is quite healthy in tons of countries around the world. Can't blame Oprah for that, just the people that live there and the governments that do nothing to prevent it.

 

[Alex Scott]

It's called race baiting. Making an issue of race when there is no issue. Seriously, it makes no sense that anyone would believe that Oprah fucking Winfrey doesn't have the money to pay for something. It's pretty clear that no act of racism occurred. Oprah, like many others, just like using race as an excuse why they don't get their way.