Video After The Jump
The controversy surrounding Jay Z's involvement with Barneys shows no signs of slowing down. As we previously reported, the high end retailer has been accused of racially profiling it's black customers in New York City.
The store is under pressure and has hired a civil rights expert to help them review their policies and customer service procedures.
Jay Z, who has a holiday collection that will be sold at the store starting on November 20, is also facing public scrutiny and pressure to sever ties with the company.
The Roc Nation mogul issued a statement October 26th regarding the issue via his Life+Times website. Part of it reads:
I move and speak based on facts and not emotion. I haven’t made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately? The negligent, erroneous reports and attacks on my character, intentions, and the spirit of this collaboration have forced me into a statement I didn’t want to make without the full facts. Making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project, wouldn’t hurt Barneys or Shawn Carter, but all the people that stand a chance at higher education. I have been working with my team ever since the situation was brought to my attention to get to the bottom of these incidents and at the same time find a solution that doesn’t harm all those that stand to benefit from this collaboration.
That response was considered to be weak by New York Daily News writer Denis Hamill, who believes Jay is letting his Brooklyn neighborhood where he grew up down by not taking a definitive stance against Barneys.
In a story published today, Hamill pointed out that Jay was quick to support the Trayvon Martin family before a verdict was reached in his killer George Zimmerman's trial. Hamill also reminded readers that the "Hard Knock Life" rapper led a boycott against Cristal by refusing to sell the champagne at his 40/40 clubs when he learned that one of it's officials had made a racist statement.
"His timid wait-and-see position on his affiliation with Barneys after revelations of a pattern of racially profiling black customers made Jay Z seem more interested in his Wall Street cred than his Brooklyn street cred," Hamill wrote.
"Now Jay Z wants to blame the press for demonizing him? And get all the facts from the corporate suits before taking a stand against racial profiling at Barneys? C’mon, man, that has about as much street cred as a parlor cat," Hamill continued. "Put your lighter in the air, Shawn Carter from Marcy, and see the light from the streets instead of from the suites."
Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg came to Jay Z's defense this morning on "The Realness."
"Jay Z is getting held to an unfair standard when it comes to this Barneys situation," Peter said. "He said he felt it would be hypocritical when talking about a situation that involves pre-judgement, for him to go ahead and pre-judge the situation that he really doesn't know the details to yet. That is a fair statement for someone that's in business with a company that's being accused of poor decision making and potential bias."
What's your opinion on this situation? Is Jay Z being unfairly judged? Sound off in the comment section below.
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