Post date: Aug 10, 2013 12:57:16 PM
NVO - Oprah Winfrey says she was a target of racism while on a recent trip to Switzerland.
The media mogul and former U.S. talk show host was visiting a shop in Zurich, when she says a sales assistant refused to show her a crocodile handbag, telling Winfrey "no, it's too expensive." Winfrey talked about the incident in an interview with U.S. entertainment news show, "Entertainment Tonight."
Oprah Winfrey saying:"I said, one more time, I said I really do just want to see that one. And 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.' And I walked out of the store."
The owner of the luxury goods shop Trois Pommes, Trudie Goetz has denied that racism was involved, saying that it was a misunderstanding.
Trudie Goetz, "Trois Pommes" store chain owner, saying:
"There can be no question of that. I welcome every customer and every customer is viewed as a king and this has nothing to do with racism. I think it was rather a communications problem between the employee who is actually Italian and who speaks Italian but also English, just not as well as Mrs. Oprah."
The bag in question was a 38,000 dollar "Jennifer" purse, designed by Tom Ford and according to the store owner, has since been sold.
Winfrey, recently named the world's most powerful celebrity by Forbes, was in Zurich for the wedding of singer Tina Turner when the incident occurred last month.