[Ammi]

Oprah Winfrey has said she recently became a victim of racism when a shop assistant in Switzerland refused to show her a £24,477 handbag saying it would be "too expensive" for her.

The US chat show host, who is one of the richest women in the world, was in Zurich for Tina Turner’s wedding when she decided to go shopping alone.

Winfrey told Entertainment Tonight: "I was in Zurich the other day, in a store whose name I will not mention. I didn't have my eyelashes on, but I was in full Oprah Winfrey gear. I had my little Donna Karan skirt and my little sandals. But obviously The Oprah Winfrey Show is not shown in Zurich.

"I go into a store and I say to the woman, 'Excuse me, may I see the bag right above your head?' and she says to me, 'No. It's too expensive.'"

The bag was apparently in the shop window behind a security wall.

When Winfrey insisted again, the woman replied: "No, no you don’t want to see that one, you want to see this one because that one will cost too much. You will not be able to afford that."

The assistant then started to show the media owner smaller bags before she asked for a third time and was refused again.

"She said, 'Oh I don’t want to hurt your feelings' and I said, 'Ok thank you so much you’re probably right I can’t afford it.'" said the 59-year-old.

Winfrey, who is the world's only African-American billionaire, then walked out of the shop calmly.

She said: "I could've had the whole blow-up thing and thrown down the black card but why do that but that clearly is you know … it (racism) still exists, of course it does."

Blick newspaper reported that Trudie Goetz, the owner of the boutique Trois Pommes, had apologised for the incident.

Ms Goetz, who is believed to have also attended Tina Turner's wedding, said there had been a "misunderstanding" caused by the assistant's failure to recognise Winfrey.

"We don't have any facial recognition here," Blick quoted Ms Goetz as saying.

Oprah had been asked on the US TV show whether anyone had ever called her the 'N- word'.

She said no one in their right mind would call her that to her face, but that racism showed itself in other ways.

"It shows up for me this way. Sometimes I’m in a boardroom or I’m in situations where I’m the only woman, I’m the only African American person within a 100-mile radius and I can see in the energy of the people there, they don’t sense that I should be holding one of those seats.

"I can sense that. But I can never tell is it racism, is it sexism, because often it’s both. I mean the sexism thing is huge. The higher the ladder you climb it gets huge, because men are used to running things."

Oprah has just been awarded America's highest civilian honour - the Presidential Medal of Freedom - which she will receive from President Barack Obama at the White House later in the year

[GiRTh]

Not the first time this has happened to Oprah. One of the Hermes shops wouldn't let her in after hours even though they do this for their more affluent clients. She got the boss of Hermes to apologise to her on her show. That's the power of Oprah.

[Z]

Wow, that's shocking. She was dignified about it but that's really humiliating.

[Cherie]

Incredible in this day that someone would make that judgement on someone else.

[GiRTh]

http://www.hollywood.com/news/brief/...ermes?page=all

Here it is. It was back in 2005. Sad that people either don't recognise Oprah or perhaps something more sinister is going on.

[Kizzy]

Why is it a black thing?.... If she looked like a bag lady maybe it's more like a 'pretty woman' thing?

[Vicky.]

How is this racism?

I'm genuinely curious here, as I dont see it?

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

How is this racism?

I'm genuinely curious here, as I dont see it?

Its happened twice now to Oprah - one of the richest and most recognisable women in the world - what do you think this is?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Its happened twice now to Oprah - one of the richest and most recognisable women in the world - what do you think this is?

I just dont see how it has to be racism. Maybe she doesnt look 'rich'. Thats nothing to do with race, if I went to an expensive bag shop theywould probably turn me down.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I just dont see how it has to be racism. Maybe she doesnt look 'rich'. Thats nothing to do with race, if I went to an expensive bag shop theywould probably turn me down.

With respect, you're not one of the richest women and most recognisable in the world though. I doubt she didn't look rich. I think the shop assistant simply didn't recognise her and it has happened before but it is interesting that the assistant assumed she couldn't afford it. Just like the assistant at Hermes who didn't think Oprah looked rich enough to be let in the store after hours.

[Lee.]

As much as I think it's terrible that people's affluence would be estimated on their appearance, I don't actually see how this incident can be classed as racism.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

With respect, you're not one of the richest women and most recognisable in the world though. I doubt she didn't look rich. I think the shop assistant simply didn't recognise her and it has happened before but it is interesting that the assistant assumed she couldn't afford it. Just like the assistant at Hermes who didn't think Oprah looked rich enough to be let in the store after hours.

Thats a totally different incident, and I dont even know about that, so its hardly fair to say that because its happened this time its proof of anything. That incident may well have been racist

From what we know about this though, there is nothing in the story that says to me that its racism. From looking around it appears the store are saying it was a misunderstanding due to the shop assistants lack of english skills. Though obviously they would say that either way.

Also, the most recognizable bit doesnt really apply? As if they knew who she was, they wouldnt have refused would they..so they obviously didnt recognize her.

[arista]

On CNN Live now

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Thats a totally different incident, and I dont even know about that, so its hardly fair to say that because its happened this time its proof of anything. That incident may well have been racist

From what we know about this though, there is nothing in the story that says to me that its racism. From looking around it appears the store are saying it was a misunderstanding due to the shop assistants lack of english skills. Though obviously they would say that either way.

Also, the most recognizable bit doesnt really apply? As if they knew who she was, they wouldnt have refused would they..so they obviously didnt recognize her.

If they knew who she was then they would definitely not have refused her. Oprah is gold to that kind of shop and to be mentioned on her show is like its own ad campaign. Oprah has got unknown authors to number one on the best seller list by endorsing their novels. Nuff said. I think you - like them - don't realise how powerful Oprah is. They would have kissed her ass for sure if they'd have recognised her.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

If they knew who she was then they would definitely not have refused her. Oprah is gold to that kind of shop and to be mentioned on her show is like its own ad campaign. Oprah has got unknown authors to number one on the best seller list by endorsing their novels. Nuff said. I think you - like them - don't realise how powerful Oprah is. They would have kissed her ass for sure if they'd have recognised her.

Yeah..still doesnt prove its racism though

I'm not saying it definitely wasnt, but to be so sure that it was is a bit silly. Could happen to anyone.

She should have just bought the whole shop out after that comment. Would be pocket change to her

[Livia]

Good for Oprah. I remember something like this happening also to Condoleezza Rice. A shop assistant told her she couldn't show her the earrings she wanted to see because they were very expensive. Amazing that this kind of thing can happen in 2013.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Its happened twice now to Oprah - one of the richest and most recognisable women in the world - what do you think this is?

Hang on, I don't have sky and have only seen Oprah a couple of times....
How would I recognise her?
And the fact she's rich is irrelevant unless she had that tattooed on her forehead I wouldn't know that either...

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yeah..still doesnt prove its racism though

I'm not saying it definitely wasnt, but to be so sure that it was is a bit silly. Could happen to anyone.

She should have just bought the whole shop out after that comment. Would be pocket change to her

Racism is very hard to prove. We all know that.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Hang on, I don't have sky and have only seen Oprah a couple of times....
How would I recognise her?
And the fact she's rich is irrelevant unless she had that tattooed on her forehead I wouldn't know that either...

I've never seen an episode of Oprah either but I know how rich and powerful she is.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

I;ve never seen an episode of Oprah either but I know how rich and powerful she is.

How?
If the queen wandered into a shop in her slippers and curlers you would be forgiven for not recognising her...

[Lee.]

I honestly don't think the issue here is racism, I think it's downright snobbery!

I have no doubt that the shop assistant did not recognise Oprah, and for whatever reason didn't think she looked rich enough to purchase the bag.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

How?
If the queen wandered into a shop in her slippers and curlers you would be forgiven for not recognising her...

So are you saying Oprah needs to walk around like a Hollywood superstar with an entourage and a dozen security to be taken seriously in shop? I don't think she needs to TBH.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Why is it a black thing?.... If she looked like a bag lady maybe it's more like a 'pretty woman' thing?

Visit Switzerland
you would find out.


There is Easy Hotel there
so its cheap in that compact Hotel in Zurich

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

So are you saying Oprah needs to walk around like a Hollywood superstar with an entourage and a dozen security to be taken seriously in shop? I don't think she needs to TBH.

No... how did you glean that from what I said?
I suggested simply that the assistant didn't recognise her, and that not everyone does have the faces of all rich and famous people emblazoned in their memory.

Would I feel it is right or fair to be labelled a racist for not recognising Oprah, no.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Lee.

I honestly don't think the issue here is racism, I think it's downright snobbery!

I have no doubt that the shop assistant did not recognise Oprah, and for whatever reason didn't think she looked rich enough to purchase the bag.

..I think it's snobbery as well Lee..more she didn't look as though she was wealthy enough but that doesn't indicate that it was to do with race...