Oprah and Hermes - was she right to get mad?

[AOII_LB93]

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!

I actually got into it because of my mom who was a horsewoman. She used to train and ride for the better part of her youth and until we moved to California. She has quite a few scarves that she got from friends/family that have horse themes. I've shopped at Hermes for her...not me. I have two little scarves. =)

[AOII_LB93]

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

Typically yes, and in France they are specifically referring to people from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia as those were previously French colonies and many of them have emigrated to France. Many many issues in France stem from this such as the last presidential election between Chirac and the far-right anti-immigrant Jean-Marie Le Pen (psycho!), but that is a completely different discussion.

sugarandspice- No, I know for a fact that you can just pull the doors and walk in to the store in Paris, I've been shopping there for my mom. And while some stores may open specifically for celebrities, doesn't it just seem a tad bit odd that Oprah had a camera crew with her to catch her every shopping move? And no, I don't watch E...I gave up on them when Talk Soup wasn't funny any more.

If she shopped there regularly I'm sure the sales people would have known her and not made the comment about North Africans - which for all we know is heresay. Oh, and we get to see it on TV? Great...editing is a good thing for anyone to prove a point.

I have lived in France and I had many problems with North African men specifically, for example following me home from the metro, touching my hair, making sexual comments, grabbing me in the metro and even getting mugged by a group of them outside my apartment. Aside from the fact that closing time is closing time in France, I've tried to go into stores two minutes before closing time over there and they didn't let me in, so does that mean they don't like blond white people?

IF the store was really closed I can see why they didn't open the door. IF it wasn't then it's a whole different story. The thing about the French in general is though, they are not as psychotically star struck as Americans, so no I don't believe that they(sales associates) would open the doors for a star, I mean let's face it, while Oprah has a ton of money, she's not well known like Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, or Gwenyth Paltrow because she is not an actress or singer.

It sounds to me like a case of "Don't you know who I am?" by Oprah, and she is pissed that she couldn't use her star power to get in the door when the store was closed.

[CarolinaCutie]

Originally posted by AOII_LB93
The thing about the French in general is though, they are not as psychotically star struck as Americans, so no I don't believe that they(sales associates) would open the doors for a star, I mean let's face it, while Oprah has a ton of money, she's not well known like Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, or Gwenyth Paltrow because she is not an actress or singer.

I agree with most of what you said except this. Oprah, or any of the actresses you named, would not necessarily need to be known to the French as a famous person. It has to do with SHOPPING and how much money she has spent in Hermes in the past. There are plenty of non-famous people with a LOT of money, and I would expect Hermes to treat them with the same "star" treatment as they would an actress, just because of the potential for them to drop thousands of dollars.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally posted by CarolinaCutie
I agree with most of what you said except this. Oprah, or any of the actresses you named, would not necessarily need to be known to the French as a famous person. It has to do with SHOPPING and how much money she has spent in Hermes in the past. There are plenty of non-famous people with a LOT of money, and I would expect Hermes to treat them with the same "star" treatment as they would an actress, just because of the potential for them to drop thousands of dollars.

But if Oprah had dropped tons of cash in Hermes, then wouldn't the sales associates know who she is? I don't know. I'm not going to second guess her at all. I can't stand her. Even though I don't have a load of cash, they were always really nice to me at Hermes.

[sageofages]

Originally posted by CarolinaCutie
I agree with most of what you said except this. Oprah, or any of the actresses you named, would not necessarily need to be known to the French as a famous person. It has to do with SHOPPING and how much money she has spent in Hermes in the past. There are plenty of non-famous people with a LOT of money, and I would expect Hermes to treat them with the same "star" treatment as they would an actress, just because of the potential for them to drop thousands of dollars.

My bet is Oprah has a stylist and a personal shopper who does that for her. I just can't imagine she takes times off during the week to shop for everything she wears....and that is ONLY once. She wears NOTHING TWICE, at least on the air.

Also may high ticket stores will send a crew with selections to your hotel, office, or home for you to shop there instead of even having to go out and do it yourself. I am sure she has availed herself of that service too.

[ChangePlease]

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.

whoa

let me ask you if you read the story and know what REALLY happened?

it seems like you didn't

and your post was VERY ignorant

[kddani]

I don't think ANY of us know what really happened or why exactly it happened

[ChangePlease]

no I mean from the articles

Oprah was denied entrance because they thought she was a North African

and North Africans have been accused of stealing

that is discrimination and you can't say it isn't

and it was WRONG

I'm glad Oprah refuses to purchase anything from them

and I'm sure she'll do a show on this issue of discrimination

that store doesn't need to be in business

how can you deny a person the right to patronize your store?

[kddani]

Just because an article says something doesn't mean it's true.

And if the store was already closed, they have every right to deny someone entrance. A store is privately owned property and they can deny entrance to anyone they wish, just as you can deny anyone from entering your home. A store can deny whoever they want and for whatever reasons they want.

If it was based solely on her race, yes, that is wrong, but it seems that there are several factors involved here. I'm also not familiar with French law so it might not even be illegal there. I'm just saying that no one should be quick to believe one side or the other just based on articles.

I do think Hermes committed a HUGE faux pas when they mentioned the problems with North Africans. No matter how you slice it, that just comes across wrong.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by ChangePlease
and your post was VERY ignorant

Let's be a little gentle with the name calling.

I haven't read anything in this thread that "proves" anything on either side. Just a lot of conjecture.

[ChangePlease]

Originally posted by kddani
Just because an article says something doesn't mean it's true.

And if the store was already closed, they have every right to deny someone entrance. A store is privately owned property and they can deny entrance to anyone they wish, just as you can deny anyone from entering your home. A store can deny whoever they want and for whatever reasons they want.

If it was based solely on her race, yes, that is wrong, but it seems that there are several factors involved here. I'm also not familiar with French law so it might not even be illegal there. I'm just saying that no one should be quick to believe one side or the other just based on articles.

I do think Hermes committed a HUGE faux pas when they mentioned the problems with North Africans. No matter how you slice it, that just comes across wrong.

who said it was closed?

and I do believe it was based on her race

[kddani]

Originally posted by ChangePlease
who said it was closed?

and I do believe it was based on her race

Did YOU read the articles? She arrived just after the store closed and they were preparing for a PR event.

You can believe what you want. Some people believe that we were created by aliens. Doesn't make it true one way or the other.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally posted by ChangePlease
who said it was closed?

and I do believe it was based on her race

You can believe whatever you want, if the store was closed why should they let anyone in? Here's the article if you would read it.http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/22/oprah.apology/

It also states that it was the gossip column in the NY Post that brought the north African comment to light...so how true is any of it? And she won't discuss it until she comes back on air in September? Seems to me that Ms. Winfrey is acting like a publicity whore with this one.

[BobbyTheDon]

Hey Moe Ron, add this quote to your little hate people thread.

I HATE OPRAH. She promotes depression, fat people, and fat people being depressed. Only fat housewives that eat bon bons with nothing better to do watch Oprah. Her and all of her audience drool over whatever male celebrity that she and they can never have because they are out of her league. Her interviews suck ass and she is not funny. And her stupi shitty sap stories are way to pansified. If you watch oprah, you are probably pale, a size gazillion and think back upon those days when you were nominated for HS homecoming queen. Only to lose to Ginger Reynolds because she slept with the QB.

Eat that OPRAH! Oh yeah, she probably will. Why won't she just go and make out with freakin Rosie O Donnel or something

And screw you Dr. Phil! This is the sum of his piece of shit advice.

" Ok, so...let me get this straight. YOu aren't happy with your life. You aren't happy wtih your husband, you hate your life and you abuse your kids. Well, let me tell you something sister. Just STOP IT *AUDIENCE CLAPS*"

Piece of shit baldy with a made up accent.

[kddani]

I think it's all a ploy to convince Hermes to supply her audience on the next "Oprah's Favorite Things" episode

As much as I dislike Oprah, I would do nearly anything to get in the audience the day of one of her favorite thing shows.