Speaking of awkward racial situations….. It appears Oprah Claus – famous for loading up her sleigh of expensive goodies to bribe her audience – got rebuffed at a Hermes store in Paris. She said it was because she’s black! The store says “um, we were closed.” Here’s the latest info…

The New York Post, in its Monday Page Six gossip column, reported she was turned away because the store had been "having a problem with North Africans lately." In comments to CNN, an Hermes spokeswoman categorically denied that allegation. "There was never any discussion of North Africans," she said. "The story is not true." The spokeswoman said Winfrey came to the store 15 minutes after closing and a security guard informed her the store was closed and gave her a card, telling her she could come back the next day. Surveillance videotape of the encounter supports the store's account, according to the spokeswoman.

Now, anyone can understand that racial profiling SURELY does still exist, and discrimination is a reality. But… think about this people. Why would ANY store turn away a huge 5-figure shopping spree by somebody like Oprah F’ing Winfrey just because she’s black. It makes no sense. And I doubt Oprah’s entourage claim that the store “didn’t know who she was”. Please. Oprah Claus? Known world wide by women everywhere.

No, Oprah, I don’t think this was racism. I think this was just good ol’ plain crappy French service – with attitude. You know, we have stores with nice stuff here in America too.