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© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Oprah sorry for media frenzy over Switzerland incident
By NICOLE EVATT LOS ANGELES©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
26 Comments
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globalwatcher
The heart of topic has nothing to do with the expensive purse and Oprah. It is a racial discrimination in Switzerland. First, hope everyone gets that from this story.
I lived in Europe for a long time in the past, and at least I can tell you my honest observation for this topic. Unlike USA, The racial discrimination is invisible and subtle in every social thread of Europe, and it is very well ALIVE.
toshiko
It probably is store's policy not to display expensive merchandiise. Just protecting from culpiits who spray somkething to damage such expensive merchandise. In USA, people may know Oprrah or she can arraqnge store owneres to show her whatever she want to see, but it is in Swiss. It was No 5 news one day, but that was it in U/SA. We will see new kind of Oprah organization shows very soon, I'd bet.
slumdog
The truth is that even Oprah admits she was not attired in the expected way for such a shop. While it is certainly possible racism played a part in the shop person's reaction. I think it was classism, not racism.
toshiko
Daytime talk shows are boring now. A variety of doctor shows and lawsuit shows., Only Cary is keeping up in CBS. Hope Oprah will organize her stuffs to let us retired people enjoy TVs. MLB is half over and not too much exciting. Maybe she will integrate he Swiss experience in future? Doctor talk shows are depressing and boring.
Moderator
Stay on topic please.
Pukey2
Yeah, try being a Brazilian going into a Japanese jewellery shop. I remember a certain incident in the Japanese news a few years back. Frankly, even if I were rich, I wouldn't want to buy anything from these sort of shops. These are for materialisti and vain people.
Nessie
So as an apology for creating a feeding-frenzy of self-promotion, she piggybacks on that same feeding-frenzy. Clever girl.
lostrune2
Biggest loser here is the store that lost an easy $38k sale!
betterdays
Care to explain how a black is treated??
Cos
Promotion of the current Weinstein hyped movie. Chapter 3.
Because white skin comes with blindness ?
Certainly not. You are the one that doesn't understand, it seems. But the Oprah is no longer treated like a black in the US or anywhere. She is really indecent as many people are dealing with actual discrimination in Zurich or 10 miles away from her palace.
Oprah, at the local convenience store, they don't let me see the cigarettes. I have to buy one pack first and they hand it to me. Can I get an invit' to come and cry with you in your show ? Say yes, my business needs more mediatic exposure.
betterdays
Maybe it was not racism but stereotyping based on previous experience.... nevertheless racism is rampant!!
JeanValJean
" I have almost never seen an image of a Latina or Black woman on the newsstands if they use foreigners. In Japan, the image of foreigners are always white, always positive. Darker skinned, are always seen in a negative way and people here are more apprehensive and cautious."
Guess you've not watched Japanese tv variety shows.
Good on Oprah for trying to stifle the media frenzy.
Jimizo
Oprah handled this very well. Gets her name in the papers showing alleged racism towards her and then gets back in the papers showing her level-headedness, humility and fairness. No doubt her squealing, whooping audience will be very impressed.
toshiko
@JaCruise: I agree with you. She and Whoopi are very popular. She will re-create Whoppi culture among talk show fans again.
bass4funk
@slumdog
Yeah, I know. But we are talking about street fashion and youth culture and that's where it ends and that is usually a fad anyway. The kids stay like that for a few years and then gradually grow out of it. So that part of the Black culture is embraced for a very short time and just because the Japanese are copying black culture and style doesn't mean they are into Black people. Case in point, many Japanese wear crosses, but when you ask them why they wear it, they say, it's fashionable. Same thing.
toshiko
@MarkG: I think she forgot she was not in Las Vegas where she mingle with t-shirt culture locals. / She did not dresse up like other millionaires. This morning, I went a fancy boutique wearign a very cheap fake alligator jacket. A clark laughed at me saying You watched Oprah news. I asked jow do you know. She said just like them you have casino's free promotion bag. I looked around and found she was right. Other people had t-shirt. Oprah mayve had denim pant and t=shirt just like when she is in Vegas.
JA_Cruise
Oprah handled this incident very nicely, well done!
slumdog
Not always. Ever heard of rap or hip hop music? Modern black styles, both music and fashion, is one of the most copied styles in Japan.
bass4funk
What El was trying to say is, that might be true, but if you are WHITE, especially in Asian countries, you encounter LESS racism than if you were Black, Latino or anything darker hue. Ask ANY person of dark or very dark complexion and see for yourself. The images are bombarded everywhere. I have almost never seen an image of a Latina or Black woman on the newsstands if they use foreigners. In Japan, the image of foreigners are always white, always positive. Darker skinned, are always seen in a negative way and people here are more apprehensive and cautious.
MarkG
@Mexicano If you are not Black, or of any other Non white race, my guess it will not be easy to understand how non whites are treated in Europe, the USA etc..so I am not going to waste my time trying to explain, but if you do live here in Japan, and are treated like a "gaijin" then you might begin to feel what a Black is treated like in the USA, etc...
Just like when I go to Mexico and Central America. Get over it, we all are different people. And yes when I am in Japan I am a gaijin and expect that. Silly of to think I fit right in! Wherever my travels have taken me I have never had a problem except in inner cities US.
nath
If she thought that was bad... then she should come to Japan or Korea or someplace else.
Who can afford a $38,000 purse? Maybe she judged her on her appearance.
Get Real
I'd be embarrassed if people knew I liked $38,000 purses.
Elbuda Mexicano
If you are not Black, or of any other Non white race, my guess it will not be easy to understand how non whites are treated in Europe, the USA etc..so I am not going to waste my time trying to explain, but if you do live here in Japan, and are treated like a "gaijin" then you might begin to feel what a Black is treated like in the USA, etc..
Terrikus
@MarkG Uhm, yeah, but it's still poor, poor, customer service regardless for someone to refuse to show you item because they think you're too poor.
MarkG
She may have been underdressed the the boutique causing the misunderstanding. Before you pull the race card, be sure it is a race issue not a immediate judgement.
Oprah, some here in USA may consider you a goddess but not worldwide. Get off your high horse and realize that. Race was not the issue recognition and perhaps your first impression was.
A Realist
Sorry for making a mountain out of a molehill, but thanks for all the publicity!