Hermes Apologizes to Oprah

Posted on June 23, 2005

The "Oprah Dissed at Hermes" story has taken on a new twist. Hermès has now publicly apologized to the founder of Oprah's Book Club. Their explanation of what happened is totally at odds with what the New York Post reported.

Hermès says that Oprah came by at 6:45 pm, 15 minutes after the store had already closed. There weren't shoppers inside the store, they were setting up for a private PR event. A security guard gave her a card and asked her to come back the next day. They also say they have security tape to back their version of the story.

This is what Page Six said in its initial report on the incident:

Spies in Paris report that, in a stunning display of ignorance, the Hermès store in the City of Light refused entry to the talk show queen. "Oprah didn't have her hair done," says a source. "When she tried the door, they refused her entry because they have been 'having a problem with North Africans' lately' and obviously had no clue who she was." A rep for Winfrey says: "Oprah is in Paris," but declined further comment. Hermès didn't return calls.

Hermes says in a statement: "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. Hermes apologizes for any offense taken due to such circumstances."

The store also says Oprah and her team arrived at the store about 15 minutes after the store closed and there was a "private PR event was being set up inside."

Harpo Productions spokeswoman Michelle McIntyre has referred to the incident as Oprah's "crash moment." It will be discussed on her show in September.

In the meantime, The New York Daily News reported that Oprah was refused entry by a sales clerk and then a store manager, after Oprah asked to come in to buy a watch for her dinner companion, Tina Turner. Hermes vehemently denied the Post's story that they turned her away because the store had been "having a problem with North Africans lately." The CEO of Hermès has called Oprah's people to personally apologize and invite her back to the store. But Oprah's rep says the "Crash Moment" episode is going forward as planned in the fall.