Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dulouz]

a "Closed" sign on the front door should be enough of a hint. Another headline - "Oprah treated rudely by French people".

What should I expect? This is entertainment news. In my life, there have been times when I have been stupored by the inanity of the art that is presented by the TV. TV that is capitvating like carbon monoxide poisoning.

Luxury store apologizes to Oprah
Hermes' Paris store had rebuffed talk show host

Wednesday, June 22, 2005; Posted: 7:48 p.m. EDT (23:48 GMT)

A spokeswoman says Oprah Winfrey will discuss the incident on air when her show resumes production.
(CNN) -- Luxury store Hermes on Wednesday apologized to Oprah Winfrey for turning her away last week, saying that its Paris store was closed to set up for a public relations event when the talk show host stopped by.

"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 statement.

"Hermes apologizes for any offense taken due to such circumstances."

The store said the incident occurred on June 14 around 6:45 p.m., about 15 minutes after the store closed. It said Winfrey and her team arrived at a time when "a private PR event was being set up inside."

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

"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.

The New York Daily News cited sources close to Winfrey as saying the talk show host was first rebuffed by a clerk and then a store manager. The Daily News reported Winfrey had gone to the store to buy a watch for singer Tina Turner, her dining partner that night.

McIntyre confirmed that account for CNN.

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."

In comments to CNN, an Hermes spokeswoman categorically denied that allegation.

"There was never any discussion of North Africans," she said. "The story is not true."

The spokeswoman said Winfrey came to the store 15 minutes after closing and a security guard informed her the store was closed and gave her a card, telling her she could come back the next day.

Surveillance videotape of the encounter supports the store's account, according to the spokeswoman.

She said the CEO of Hermes has called Winfrey's people to explain "the situation" and invited her to come back to shop in the store.

[wannago]

Typical media star crap. The "rest of us" should cater to their every whim. I mean, Oprah gave away some cars for crying out loud!

Why do people sometimes cry racism when the incident clearly had nothing to do with race?

[ChimpumCallao]

I heard that they didn't let her in because they had been having problems with north africans, plus they didn't recognize her because she wasn't done up.

Anyway, I agree that famous people can be obnoxious and self-centered, but dear me...if I had a business I would not like to snub or piss off the arguably most powerful woman in the world with HER OWN TV SHOW.

Then again, the Hermes boycott will probably be by a bunch of fat middle class American women who couldn't afford the stuff in the first place.

[dulouz]

This is the dumbest crap imaginable. This makes me embarrassed to be an American. What is the offense here? Does this mean that business owners are required to open the stores at any time? For a rich women? For black woman? For a woman? For a rich black woman? For the rich?

There are plenty of wicked indignities cast upon the unfortunate of the world as we speak. Real, real bad ones.

This episode of some over fed, spoiled professional mouth seeking extra favors at a boutique for a dinner guest present isn't one of them and the idea that she's going to talk about it on her show like its a human rights violation/lynching is obscene.

[Gwangjuboy]

Who the hell does she thinks she is? I could be black, white, or pink and it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference if the store was already closed. Does she seriously think that stores should suddenly extend their opening hours to escape from being branded racist? She must be nuts. The store is even worse considering they called her back. People of colour only need to cry racism and white people get scared. Bugger that PC bullsh*t.

[funplanet]

hell, i'd open after hours as long as the wallet is open

[dulouz]

I am ashamed I am making posts about Oprah. If she feels she was discriminated against then she should file some manner of complaint and have it investigated. I can quess how the test/investigation would be done. Regardless, this is alot of accusatory hearsay on national TV over inane crap. Opening and closing a store like that requires fairly stiff security. They have to arrange for guards, open the safe, restock, turn off the alarms. Its not that easy.

Sometimes the label "Stupid Americans" is valid.

[FUBAR]

*beep* Oprah!!!! I've never liked that two-faced cow.

That being said, wait to see what her show says before hanging her out to dry.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Mr. Literal]

I second everything that dulouz wrote, especially:

[Butterfly]

[Mr. Literal]

[Derrek]

I've always been disgusted with Oprah. Especially her "church of Oprah" segments called, "Remembering your spirit."

Worse, she gets on there and plugs this and that book about relationships, dating, etc., and she isn't even married herself. Women who follow all of the rules in the dating books she often pushes will be single and likely unhappy for the rest of their lives.

Now she's on some tirade about how she's a Zulu.

Give me a break.

[bucheon bum]

Well one thing Oprah has done: brought liberals and conservatives together on one issue.

[jajdude]

I don't know.... I would go out of my way to make Oprah happy.

That chick has a lot of clout!

And apparently a lot of people like her.

I believe she does some good in this world.

Also: Given limited TV options her show is one I watch sometimes.