Oprah Winfrey racism claim after being refused service by Swiss shop attendant

Oprah Winfrey has revealed that a shop attendant refused to serve her during a recent trip to Switzerland in what she has said was an act of racism. The American chat show host, who is one of the richest women in the world, was told by a shop assistant in Zürichch that the handbag she wanted to look at was "too expensive for her".

The luxury shop has denied discrimination against the billionaire celebrity and said a language barrier caused the misunderstanding.

The bag in question was a $38,000 "Jennifer" purse, designed by Tom Ford. Report by Sarah Kerr.

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[saraandstuartshannon]

Oh boy! My husband and I moved to Switzerland a year ago. What happened to Oprah is not an isolated case, and they don’t just dislike blacks, but everyone who isn’t Swiss 🙈

[Bulletproof..]

3 year in Switzerland, 💯 times victim of racism, I cannot wait to leave this country. Being Asian, it’s a curse here, everyone keep looking at you like a theft, sometimes I feel so bad, even cry but it’s a daily struggles. God will punish them one day.
Nothing is permanent

[alvinlim]

I myself married to my partner who is a Swiss knows exactly that this is tending to happen at all time as Swiss people have this thinking that they are the best in the world and they hate when they see foreigners in their country. Sadly their education didn’t teach them that the reason they stop feeding on potato is due to their tourism industry.

[lisabean-roseburgh]

Question: May I see that bag above your head?
Answer: No.
There is no problem with the language. "No" is used in a lot of languages and no means no.

[merrykrichtsamt]

Switzerland became rich with banking secrecy, but now the game is over.

[remikvalheim]

she should`ve bought the store and then fired the store attendant.

[grizzly]

Store attendant: You won't be able to afford something like this
Oprah: Hold my beer

[jewellm]

By the way, during an interview by Entertainment Tonight, Oprah discussed the movie, The Butler, in which she played the butler's wife. Nancy O'Donald asked Oprah if she had ever experienced rascism. Oprah had gone to Tina Turner's wedding in Switzerland the month before. The incident was fresh in her memory. This is how the story came out. It wasn't as if Oprah went straight to the press with an allegation. Oprah told the story as a consequence of being asked a question, and she told the truth.

[louised]

If someone wants to SEE a purse, there shouldn't be a question about it. Just show the person the dern purse.

[profoundstench]

employee: that's too expensive
oprah:....do you know who I am

[XG]

P.S. Look at all the offended Swiss people with fake ids just commenting and trying to defend they're pride and prejudice... just sad!

[greymcknight]

she can buy your shop. Fire that employee

i'm not shocked that the store salesperson was racist, but i am shocked that she didn't know who Oprah was.

[Jeedxx]

It’s funny because Oprah can afford the store attendant and the store a thousand times over. 🤣

[n.j.s.givemeasmile]

Anyway, she saved a lot of money at this day 😁

[SheenaBoBeena]

if I can understand a one year old who has no ability to say any word in any language pointing at what they want from a cabinet in my kitchen then not only was that employee racist but the store is further protecting that employees' racism even in the face of a lawsuit from Oprah.

[Dr.Bertaud]

The designer should remove his bags from the store's inventory with knowledge of sales. No sales of his most expensive bags should justify removal.

[Saffron.Aerowyn_]

Oprah should have re-enacted that store scene in PRETTY WOMAN....and then conclude with, "KISS MY MILLIONAIRE ASS"!

[shys]

clerks have judge the way i was dressed, stopping to grab a gift for someone's birthday after work. i hate when someone tells me a grown up, that works i can't afford something! it's not your place, to know my budget. simply give me what i ask for and am willing to pay for!

[sonnyitaliano]

and the purse was kind of ugly anyways