Oprah and Hermes - was she right to get mad?

[sigmadiva]

I did a search for this topic and did not see one, so I started this thread.

Do you think Oprah was right to get angry for not being allowed in the Hermes store?

My thoughts - No. Just becasue she makes a kazillion dollars and sure, her endorsement can mean alot for a product, I think she needs to realize that not everyone in the world likes / loves her and respect what she does. I mean, how cocky is she that she thinks she can just walk up to any store at anytime and they cater to her needs!!!

I think the store was right to refuse her. They (if true) already had a planned event in progress and did not have to open the door for anyone not associated with the event.

I think Oprah got a nice reality check.

[sageofages]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
I did a search for this topic and did not see one, so I started this thread.

Do you think Oprah was right to get angry for not being allowed in the Hermes store?

My thoughts - No. Just becasue she makes a kazillion dollars and sure, her endorsement can mean alot for a product, I think she needs to realize that not everyone in the world likes / loves her and respect what she does. I mean, how cocky is she that she thinks she can just walk up to any store at anytime and they cater to her needs!!!

I think the store was right to refuse her. They (if true) already had a planned event in progress and did not have to open the door for anyone not associated with the event.

I think Oprah got a nice reality check.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ah#post1039651

my other post too

I think it is more a reaction to a slap in her ego than a racial undertone. My experience...

I was a guest on her show in 1996 and quit being a "fan" after that experience. She was WAY catered to as in obviously the boss...ie, she says to no one in particular (sort of out to the air) "I want a cup of tea" and one just appears out of no where....there was a small glitch with a video segment and she says again "we *will* have a meeting about this" and several people were all scrambling to get to phones etc.

She was not all that friendly with the audience during the commerical breaks being all business and she seemed to interact with certain African American members of the guests more than us normal audience crazies (white or black). Actually one very *fine* AfricanAmerican man in particular otherwise she bare acknowledged we were in the room during the commerical breaks.

She *doesn't* allow photos with guests UNLESS her official photographer does the photos..and he is ONLY there when it is a celebrity (from the producer of my segment).

When I had my make up done, I told the makeup artist NO mascara I would do my own - I don't share. She insisted to using her stuff and I ended up with a HUGE eye infection. I let the producer know this happened and they never even acknowledged my correspondence. Seriously, you think she could either afford to supply fresh for her guests OR she could work a deal with revlon, etc to have samples for guest to use that aren't reused.


So when I heard about her interaction with the Paris shop, my first thought was "I bet she thought they should have opened for her simply because she said to" and when they wouldn't she decided that they were going to "regret" it. I think she is pretty damned used to getting what she wants, when she wants it, and isn't used to being told "No, you aren't the most special" person around.

[AchtungBaby80]

Well, I mean...if it was a private event, I wouldn't have expected to be let in, either. But wait, I'm not Oprah, either...

I hate to be mean and sarcastic because up til now Oprah has seemed like nothing but the most generous, down-to-earth person despite the fact that she has something like 47 kajillion dollars, but if this is true, then I think she did need to be taken down a notch. Sorry.

[starryeyed]

I thought she had called the store ahead of time & they told her it'd be ok for her to come on in. I think it'd be more of a case of discrimination against Americans than her being black. However there is a lot of discrimination and prejudice going on in Western Europe and especially France due to an influx of immigrants. So either way I wouldn't be surprised, and I'd be afraid to make Oprah an enemy if I were Hermes! She has the power to get anything she mentions to be the hottest thing & they can't keep it on the shelves ,whether its a book by Tolstoy or a lotion at Bath and Body Works.

[FirstAndFinest]

I'm not at all surprised by Sage's story. I think in the Hermes case, Oprah was PO'd that she was not reconized as the star she believes herself to be and is carrying on as an "ugly American" would.
I used to like Oprah, waaay back when she was doing the trash-TV. Now, I find her to be very phony (and don't get me started on Dr. Phil!). I'm *really* annoyed that she was not fined, nor given any consequences for the show on oral/anal sex - yet Howard Stern can no longer say the word "anal."

[Honeykiss1974]

Granted, there are like 4 or 5 stories goling around but according to this one, which was first reported (and posted in the AKA news thread)......

FRENCH MANNERS
DON'T expect Oprah Winfrey (above) to accessorize with Hermes bags any time soon. Spies in Paris report that, in a stunning display of ignorance, the Hermes store in the City of Light refused entry to the talk show queen. "Oprah didn't have her hair done," says a source. "When she tried the door, they refused her entry because they have been 'having a problem with North Africans' lately' (this has no racial overtones to it? Maybe they meant North-north Africans) and obviously had no clue who she was." A rep for Winfrey says: "Oprah is in Paris," but declined further comment. Hermes didn't return calls.

~~~~~~~~

We're not talking about you or me being refused at the local Bloomingdales because let's face it - we're a dime a dozen If I was Oprah I would be upset. Don't think for a second that she is the first millionaire that has wanted to shop there afterhours - even IF they were setting up for a PR event, she could have still been shown a few handbags, watches or something. Stores like this go out of their way all the time for their customers because they will be plunking down $10,000 or more FOR ONE PURSE.

[Rudey]

If I was Oprah, I would use my billions to buy out Hermes and fire everyone and hire whomever I wanted. Seriously what else does she use her money for? The dream bus? Come on Oprah, do it!

-Rudey

[Peaches-n-Cream]

This is a public relations nightmare for Hermes.

I really don't know what happened, but it makes me think of that scene in Pretty Woman where they won't help Julia Roberts. She returns the next day and says to the sales clerk, "You work on commission, right? Big mistake, big, huge. I have to go shopping." Somebody at Hermes made a pretty big mistake.

[moe.ron]

This is a public relations nightmare for Hermes.

It is, but it won't effect their sales whatsoever. Let's be honest, most of Oprah's viewer did not or will not be buying Hermes' products.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally posted by starryeyed
I thought she had called the store ahead of time & they told her it'd be ok for her to come on in. I think it'd be more of a case of discrimination against Americans than her being black. However there is a lot of discrimination and prejudice going on in Western Europe and especially France due to an influx of immigrants. So either way I wouldn't be surprised, and I'd be afraid to make Oprah an enemy if I were Hermes! She has the power to get anything she mentions to be the hottest thing & they can't keep it on the shelves ,whether its a book by Tolstoy or a lotion at Bath and Body Works.

You know, ordinarily I might tend to agree with you, but this is Hermes, a store that not a lot of people can afford anyhow, so just because Oprah says it was the most humiliating experience of her life some people won't shop there? Fine. It's not like their business was dependent on her to begin with. They will continue to do business as usual and I will continue to shop there while in Paris if I so choose.

Secondly, if it's closing time in France, it's closing time. The sales people at Hermes aren't going to open the doors for someone just because they are famous and they are previously closed for an event anyhow. The doors to Hermes, (to those of you who have not had the opportunity to check it out before) are not "closed" to everyone, you can just walk right in like it's a regular store.

Thirdly, Oprah isn't famous in France. Why should they know who she is anyhow? It's not discrimination against Americans, it's called reality Oprah, join it.

[UKTriDelt]

Originally posted by AOII_LB93
It's not like their business was dependent on her to begin with. They will continue to do business as usual and I will continue to shop there while in Paris if I so choose.

Oh I'm jealous, I wish I could shop at Hermes. Being a horse rider, I appreciate all of the equestrian touches and absolutely fell in love with the store when I took a trip to Vegas this past spring break (Though I've known about it forever as a place to get good ties for Dad or bags for Mom, the only interest I took in the store until recently was a gorgeous saddle). Lucky you!

[starryeyed]

Originally posted by UKTriDelt
Oh I'm jealous, I wish I could shop at Hermes. Being a horse rider, I appreciate all of the equestrian touches and absolutely fell in love with the store when I took a trip to Vegas this past spring break (Though I've known about it forever as a place to get good ties for Dad or bags for Mom, the only interest I took in the store until recently was a gorgeous saddle). Lucky you!

Hey I have a Hermes Birkin that I inherited- you want it? It's ugly and looks like a Doctor's bag.

[UKTriDelt]

Originally posted by starryeyed
Hey I have a Hermes Birkin that I inherited- you want it? It's ugly and looks like a Doctor's bag.

Don't tempt me!! I would sell my soul for a Birkin!

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by AOII_LB93


Secondly, if it's closing time in France, it's closing time. The sales people at Hermes aren't going to open the doors for someone just because they are famous and they are previously closed for an event anyhow. The doors to Hermes, (to those of you who have not had the opportunity to check it out before) are not "closed" to everyone, you can just walk right in like it's a regular store.

Thirdly, Oprah isn't famous in France. Why should they know who she is anyhow? It's not discrimination against Americans, it's called reality Oprah, join it.

I have reasonable doubt about these last two. Obviously I can't speak with any authority on the subject, but I know that the majority of stores will open up (even if they're closed) to famous people. Don't you watch any E! specials? Furthermore, while Oprah's show doesn't air in France and thus the average citizen probably has an excuse to not recognize her, do you honestly think that salespeople at these designer stores don't recognize the foreign celebrities that come in repeatedly? Come on. . . .

Furthermore, I think that the majority of people need reading comprehension tests because many of them are talking about Oprah's complaint that Hermes is discriminating against North AMERICANS (wtf?) when in reality it was North AFRICANS. Race not nationality, kids.


And while I agree with moe.ron that Oprah's general audience may not be too influential with Hermes, it's not them I'd be worried about -- it's the fact that she has a number of friends among the rich and famous and could hold some sway with them.

[Taualumna]

I find that North African comment interesting. Aren't North Africans from countries like Egypt and are more Middle Eastern in appearance?