The high-end Manhattan department store Barneys has received bad publicity in the last few weeks as stories of racial profiling and discrimination have surfaced. In separate incidents, two African-American students were stopped and questioned after purchasing expensive designer pieces at the Madison Avenue store. As a result, Barneys and the NYPD are now the target of lawsuits.
Questioned Over a Bag and a Belt
Last week, a second shopper came forward with a story of apparent racial profiling at Barneys that occurred in February. Kayla Phillips purchased a $2,500 Céline bag with money she received from her tax return. After leaving the store, four undercover police officers surrounded her and began questioning her about how she was able to purchase the designer bag. After showing documentation, they let her go. The 21-year-old nursing student and mother believes the officers questioned her because of her race. She intends to sue Barneys and the NYPD.
This accusation comes on the heels of the story that put Barneys in the headlines earlier this month. According to the NY Post, a young college student was handcuffed and taken in for questioning after purchasing a high-ticket item at the store. Trayon Christian, a 19-year-old freshman at the NYC College of Technology, said he saved money from his part-time job at the college to buy the $350 Ferragamo belt. The clerk who sold him the belt, after asking for ID, allegedly alerted police, believe the transaction was fake.
Undercover police officers then approached Christian, cuffed him, and took him to a nearby precinct. One officer allegedly asked Christian “how a young black man such as himself could afford to purchase such an expensive belt.” Christian showed the officers his ID, debit card, and receipt. After verifying his identity with Chase, the bank that issued Christian’s debit card, the officers let him go. Christian is now suing Barneys and the NYPD over the incident.
Reactions to Barneys Controversy
Barneys said on its Facebook page that it has “zero tolerance” for discrimination. The CEO apologized and announced that he has hired a civil rights expert to review the company’s policies. The store also insists that in at least one incident, the sales clerks did not alert the officers over the transaction. The NYPD regularly has plainclothes officers inside the store in response to multiple complaints of credit card fraud.
Rapper Jay Z, who has been collaborating with Barneys to launch a collection for the holidays, has come under pressure to break ties with the retailer. A petition on change.org has already gathered over 15,000 signatures. But Jay Z (a.k.a. Shawn Carter) has resisted, stating that he does not want to make any decisions before knowing all the facts. He also stated that he stands to make no money from the collaboration; proceeds will go to The Shawn Carter Foundation.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is now investigating Barneys and Macy’s, another high-end Manhattan department store, after several accusations against both stores of racial discrimination.
