YAICS: Harpo

[LegendKiller]

Yet Another Idiotic Celebrity Story:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/0...ogy/index.html

"Crash" is a film dealing with race relations. The phrase "crash moment" refers to situations where a party feels discriminated against on the basis of skin color.

So, stupid Harpo thinks that she was discriminated against since she couldn't enter the store 30min after they closed while setting up for the next day. Seriously, WTF is with these fekkin celebs thinking they deserve so much more?

So now she is going to use this as show fodder, fan the flames of racism, and make millions more. Ohh boy!

If it was in fact racism and she has evidence, then she has every right to be pissed. But from all accounts she is making a huge issue out of this.

[mcs328]

Gee...the store is closed. No need to play the race card. This is more of a time card issue. The store is closed.

[TofuNinja]

Who knows what Oparh will do? Maybe she will rip them, maybe she won't. She didn't personally say anything... her PR person did. And if she was pissed it is because perhaps that these stores NORMALLY will bend over backwards for celebs. There is a whole different set of rules for celeb then there are for us normal peeps. Hell if I had a store and Angelina Jolie, Jerry Rice, Hulk Hogan, or someone else famous wanted to shop after hours, I'd let them in.

[zero2dash]

And so it goes on and on.

Is this all that people can do nowadays? If they're famous, they pull the "I'm a celeb and you should kiss my ass" card, and if they're not white and they're miffed then they pull the "you hate me because I'm black" race card.

[mcs328]

I've recently heard Ashton Kutcher demanded he get swags of clothes for free and when the owner refused he put on a hissy fit. He left with nothing.

[DarkFury]

Heh... I say send Paris Hilton to that store 15 mins after the close and see if they don't open up for her.

If they do... RACE CARD.

If they don't... Calling call... come back tomorrow during normal operating hours.

[bachviet]

Celebs think that they deserve special treatments.

[nickel]

Heh... I say send Paris Hilton to that store 15 mins after the close and see if they don't open up for her.

If they do... RACE CARD.

If they don't... Calling call... come back tomorrow during normal operating hours.

i agree, but that wasn't the case.
so if the race card is being called now from all that's been reported it's not called for.

i haven't heard a word that Oprah herself has said about this incident. she seems a decent person so i would surmise that she will speak the truth about the ordeal.

[DarkFury]

Celebs think that they deserve special treatments.

Only because many folks would give it to them....

i agree, but that wasn't the case.
so if the race card is being called now from all that's been reported it's not called for.

I wasn't saying that it was... I was saying that they should do that to test the theory.

[tupacboy]

umm... they're closed....

[mcs328]

I heard she returned everything from her last purchase back to the store. I guess we'll see what she has to say when she broadcasts this upcoming season.

[TofuNinja]

I can't wait to see what comes of this. I heard she either returned or cancelled a an order for 12 hand bags that costs $6500 a piece from that store... WOW. Man if ANYONE spends that kind of money at my store I'd give them special treatment.... Also if the saleperson who insulted her actually made those racist comments that person is a dumbass. Oprah is Forbes number one MOST POWERFUL celeb.... wrong person to piss off.

I can see where people would cry unwarrented use of race card.... and yes they were closed.... however they most have let Oprah (and for that matter any wealthy/celeb) in after hours before. We fail to forget that famous people may have special arrangements with stores like this... If I was famous I would hate to walk into a store and get swormed by people and media. I would really love it if a store would let me in after hours to shop in peace. I am sure store directors made these types of arrangements.

So all that really is in question is the possible racial remarks made by the salesperson who turned Oprah away. I am sure if it were just a fact that Oprah was turned away because of the set up of a PR event we wouldn't even be hearing about it.

[tupacboy]

i don't recall reading about any insults....

[MikeD]

Pure speculation at this point, but it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

If you're turned away after hours (in the absence of racism, rudeness, etc.), then walk away and forget about it. To complain about not having preferential treatment reeks of arrogance.

Do I think Oprah is arrogant? She doesn't appear to be at. Are there other celebs who are offered preferential treatment? Sure. Should she be upset about that if she was not offered the same? Sure. But the bottom line is that I, as the common man, don't have compassion for someone who complains about not getting preferential treatment due to his/her status.

Again, it's all speculation. Obviously a bit of misinformation and/or lying going on, since there are multiple versions of the story.

I've recently heard Ashton Kutcher demanded he get swags of clothes for free and when the owner refused he put on a hissy fit. He left with nothing.

Man, I hate to say this, but this sounds like the kind of half-truth that can make the story even worse...

[TofuNinja]

i don't recall reading about any insults....

The New York Post, in its Monday Page Six gossip column, reported she was turned away because the store had been "having a problem with North Africans lately."

[DarkFury]

I can't wait to see what comes of this. I heard she either returned or cancelled a an order for 12 hand bags that costs $6500 a piece from that store... WOW. Man if ANYONE spends that kind of money at my store I'd give them special treatment.... Also if the saleperson who insulted her actually made those racist comments that person is a dumbass. Oprah is Forbes number one MOST POWERFUL celeb.... wrong person to piss off.

I can see where people would cry unwarrented use of race card.... and yes they were closed.... however they most have let Oprah (and for that matter any wealthy/celeb) in after hours before. We fail to forget that famous people may have special arrangements with stores like this... If I was famous I would hate to walk into a store and get swormed by people and media. I would really love it if a store would let me in after hours to shop in peace. I am sure store directors made these types of arrangements.

So all that really is in question is the possible racial remarks made by the salesperson who turned Oprah away. I am sure if it were just a fact that Oprah was turned away because of the set up of a PR event we wouldn't even be hearing about it.

heh... remember what happened when the "Cattlemen's Association" got all riled up when Oprah said "don't eat beef".

Her opinion affects alot of women out there... not that your average "everyday" veiwer is shopping at Hermes for $6,500 purses..

BTW.. here is some other websites with information:
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,16815,00.html

However, Gayle King, a pal of Winfrey's, who was with her at the time of the incident, disputes Hermès' 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 Hermès.' "

Winfrey's Chicago-based Harpo Productions confirmed that the daytime diva canceled a recent order for one of Hermès' 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 Hermès, that she would no longer be patronizing his stores.

Now that was from an "eyewitness" who was there at the scene when it happened... Maybe Hermes was trying to clear the store, but they definitely weren't "closed and locked tight for the night". Could they have let her in? Maybe... In the aftermath, do they kinda realize that they might have made a really bad call as far as upsetting someone who is THAT influential over a bunch of people? Definitely.

Chalk it up to those "wild and crazy French" doing what they wanna do...

[MikeD]

Now that was from an "eyewitness" who was there at the scene when it happened... Maybe Hermes was trying to clear the store, but they definitely weren't "closed and locked tight for the night". Could they have let her in? Maybe... In the aftermath, do they kinda realize that they might have made a really bad call as far as upsetting someone who is THAT influential over a bunch of people? Definitely.

Come on DF, can't base an opinion on an "eyewitness" who was one of "...Oprah's pals". That's not looking at it from a neutral perspective.

She probably did get the shaft, but we can't be certain. I don't see how this sheds positive light on Oprah; if anything, it looks bad for both parties. Some folks will fault Oprah, some Hermes. I agree with you in saying that (if they did kick her back) it was a dumb, dumb move on Hermes part. She's too influential within the media...

I'll say it again: take the high road and walk away. That's the best solution...

[bachviet]

The customers were in the store before it was closed so they were still alowed to finish shopping and paid for their items. They just didn't let any customer in after it was closed. How hard is that to understand?

[DarkFury]

Come on DF, can't base an opinion on an "eyewitness" who was one of "...Oprah's pals". That's not looking at it from a neutral perspective.

She probably did get the shaft, but we can't be certain. I don't see how this sheds positive light on Oprah; if anything, it looks bad for both parties. Some folks will fault Oprah, some Hermes. I agree with you in saying that (if they did kick her back) it was a dumb, dumb move on Hermes part. She's too influential within the media...

I'll say it again: take the high road and walk away. That's the best solution...

If you get into a car accident... you are alone, the other driver has a passenger. No other witnesses were around...

Don't you think that the cop is gonna take the passenger's view into account?

Pretty much, regardless of her relationship with Winfrey... she was ACTUALLY there. The response from "Hermes" did not come from the person at the door who told them to go away.. it came from their "PR" folks.

Who believes who?

The customers were in the store before it was closed so they were still alowed to finish shopping and paid for their items. They just didn't let any customer in after it was closed. How hard is that to understand?

Nobody is questioning that...

However, if the President comes to your house... and says... "Hey.. can I use your phone".


Do you tell him... "Hell naw... I gotta go and can't wait on ya.".


(Well.. come to think... maybe I would do that if G Dub showed up on my doorstep. )

[bachviet]

I would do the same if Oprah shows up at my door step.

[MikeD]

Who believes who?

Probably shouldn't believe either one. Hermes "PR" folks equate about the same as Oprah's pals ("PR folks").

I would do the same if Oprah shows up at my door step.

I'm with you on that one...

[DarkFury]

Probably shouldn't believe either one. Hermes "PR" folks equate about the same as Oprah's pals ("PR folks").

I guess you still wont agree that an "eyewitness account" beats a media PR account...

How do you know that Ms. King is Oprah's "PR" person? She's a friend yes, she was also at the scene... Pretty much that just makes her a witness on Oprah's side. Not her PR... she has other folks that do that.

Harpo Productions spokeswoman Michelle McIntyre said Winfrey "will discuss her 'crash moment' when her show returns from hiatus in September."

Michelle McIntyre <> Gayle King

But of course, everyone forms their OWN opinions as to what does and does not qualify as a "credible" witness to what actually happened.

[MikeD]

I guess you still wont agree that an "eyewitness account" beats a media PR account...

How do you know that Ms. King is Oprah's "PR" person? She's a friend yes, she was also at the scene... Pretty much that just makes her a witness on Oprah's side. Not her PR... she has other folks that do that.

I wasn't being literal, just making that statement that it's he said-she said stuff.

Hey, I originally stated that she probably did get the shaft. My point is not whether it happened or not: it's that she's wrong if she's complaining about not getting preferential treatment.

I don't want to speculate on the "North Africans" comment. If that happened, then Hermes needs to re-examine their staff.

[DarkFury]

I wasn't being literal, just making that statement that it's he said-she said stuff.

Hey, I originally stated that she probably did get the shaft. My point is not whether it happened or not: it's that she's wrong if she's complaining about not getting preferential treatment.

I don't want to speculate on the "North Africans" comment. If that happened, then Hermes needs to re-examine their staff.

Once again... Oprah hasn't officially said anything on this. Everyone else has done the talking.

Not one word of complaint...other than telling the owner of Hermes that she won't shop there anymore and cancelling her pending handbag purchase based on the feeling that her business isn't wanted anymore.

BTW... who said anything about the "North Africans". Gayle King & "entourage" have already confirmed that this wasn't said as an eyewitness account.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/goss...p-274724c.html

You may have heard that the talk queen was denied entry to the luxury-goods store's Paris branch last weekend at closing time. According to one report, Hermès staffers rebuffed Winfrey because they didn't recognize her and because they'd been "having a problem with North Africans lately."

But friends of Oprah say that's bunk.

"They knew exactly who she was," a pal tells us. "They specifically said, 'We know who you are.'"

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Though Oprah hasn't accused the Gauls of racism, her friend suggests, "If it had been Celine Dion or Britney Spears or Barbra Streisand, there is no way they would not be let in that store."

Just because they stated the opinion that had it been a different White celebrity... the outcome might have been different is not strong enough to say that their accounts of what happened aren't valid.

Pretty much, If I get what I perceive as "bad business" from someone... whether or not that was their intent, it is my right to refuse to shop there anymore. We all have that choice. Granted, the last customer you wanna piss off is one that will spread the word to others... especially one that has this level of influence. But thems the breaks...