Savannah James Recounts Luxury Store Confrontation Leading to Firing

Savannah James and her co-host, April McDaniel, described being treated poorly upon arrival at the Hermès location. McDaniel noted that the saleswoman questioned the validity of their appointment, prompting a sharp response from the pair. McDaniel recalled telling the employee, “We’ll be back for you,” before moving to resolve the issue through higher channels. Once the situation was addressed, the store staff provided them with access to high-end merchandise, including crocodile leather pieces, and McDaniel ultimately purchased several luxury items.

This incident follows a pattern of high-profile figures reporting discriminatory treatment at luxury European retailers. Oprah Winfrey faced a similar situation at a Paris Hermès in 2005, and later experienced a separate incident in Switzerland where a clerk refused to show her a handbag, claiming it was too expensive. More recently, tennis icon Serena Williams publicly criticized a Paris restaurant during the 2024 Olympic Games after being denied access to a rooftop area. While the restaurant, The Peninsula, later cited full reservations as the cause for the refusal, these accounts highlight the persistent friction between global luxury institutions and high-profile Black celebrities.