It was reported last week that Oprah was a victim of racist at a shop in Switzerland when she walked in to purchase a bag that cost £25,000. Read through to see the story side of the sales Assistant as reported by DAILYMAIL.The sales assistant who refused to
show U.S. talkshow billionaire Oprah Winfrey a luxury handbag costing
nearly £25,000 claims the superstar lied about what happened in the
luxury Swiss boutique where she works.
Speaking
anonymously to Sunday newspaper SonntagsBlick, the Italian bag lady
said she felt 'powerless' and in the grip of a 'cyclone' after Winfrey
went on TV in America to claim she had been the victim of racism.
Winfrey
was in Switzerland in July when she walked into the Trois Pommes
boutique in Zurich looking for a handbag to match the outfit she was
going to wear to old friend Tina Turner's wedding.
She
claims the sales assistant refused to show her the black crocodile
leather bag because - seeing a black woman - she automatically assumed
she would not be able to afford it.
Now
the saleslady has hit back, stating: 'I wasn't sure what I should
present to her when she came in on the afternoon of Saturday July 20 so I
showed her some bags from the Jennifer Aniston collection.
'I explained to her the bags came in different sizes and materials, like I always do.
'She looked at a frame behind me. Far above there was the 35,000 Swiss franc crocodile leather bag.
'I simply told her that it was like the one I held in my hand, only much more expensive, and that I could show her similar bags.
'It
is absolutely not true that I declined to show her the bag on racist
grounds. I even asked her if she wanted to look at the bag.
The saleslady went on: 'This is not
true. This is absurd. I would never say something like that to a
customer. Really never. Good manners and politeness are the Alpha and
the Omega in this business.
'I don't know why she is making these accusations. She is so powerful and I am just a shop girl.
'I didn't hurt anyone. I don't know why someone as great as her must cannibalize me on TV.
'If
it had all taken place as she claimed, why has she not complained the
next day at the wedding of Tina Turner with Trudie Goetz, my boss? She
was there also at the Turner wedding as a guest. I don't understand it.
'I spoke to Oprah Winfrey in English. My English is okay but not excellent, unfortunately.
'I didn't know who she was when she came into the store. That wouldn't have made any difference if I had.
'We work really hard to greet all the people who come into the store with the same level of respect and treat them all equally.
'If
someone asks me whether he or she can see an article, I always present
these. Because that person is a potential buyer. And my job is to sell
it.
'I'm glad if I can sell an article. It is a reward for me, if I can sell a nice piece. This means that I'm good at my job.'
She
has worked in the store for five years, says 50 per cent of the
clientele come from abroad and that a bag costing nearly £25,000 is sold
'only a few times a year.'
Asked
what she would say to Oprah now she added: 'I would apologize and say
it was all a misunderstanding. I surely did not intentionally want to
insult Ms. Winfrey. I hope this nightmare ends soon.'
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