Barneys NY has recently come under fire for 2 alleged incidents of racial profiling involving black consumers.
In response to the avalanche of negative press surrounding his business affiliation with Barneys, Jay Z’s publicist released a statement on Saturday making him out to be the victim.
“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,” Z was quoted as saying.
“Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?”
He added: “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.”
Jay Z teamed up with the high end retailer for a Christmas holiday store dubbed “A New York Holiday,” featuring pieces from 20 top designers.
The store will be called BNY SCC Gallery (short for Barneys NY Shawn Corey Carter).
In the long-winded statement, Jay’s publicist noted that 25% of all proceeds from the Barneys event would benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, along with an additional 10% of all sales generated in the store and a separate check from Barneys.
“I am not making a dime from this collection; I do not stand to make millions, as falsely reported,” the statement quotes Jay Z as saying.
The statement continues: “This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning. My idea was born out of creativity and charity… not profit.”
Civil rights leader and radio host Rev. Al Sharpton joined the very short list of public figures defending the rapper.
“Some people want to make this about Jay-Z. No, this is about Barneys first.” Kirsten John Foy, head of Sharpton’s National Action Network in Brooklyn, said, “There’s a lot of talk about whether or not Barneys should be doing business with certain black people. I think it’s a racist notion to assume that the only black person Barneys does business with is Jay Z. We’re not there to focus on Jay Z. Jay-Z did not write the corporate policy at Barneys. Jay-Z is just like every other business man, he is there to make money and if he is the only black business man that does business with Barneys – that is the problem.” Source
Judging by online responses to Jay Z’s statement, it seems few are buying Jay Z’s claim that he is not profiting from his collaboration with Barneys.
Jay Z has never been known to be a charitable fellow. In fact, the rapper earned $63 million in 2011 but only donated $6,000 to charity.
Jay Z is a former Brooklyn crack dealer who has spent his entire life profiting off of the suffering of others.
It won’t be long before Jay Z’s status as a token black for corporate America no longer serves a purpose.
Click to read the full statement on Jay Z’s website.
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