BY: Denver Sean
Published 11 years ago
Social media is on fire in response to Trayon Christian of Queens who was handcuffed and detained for hours by cops after he bought a $349 belt from the department store on Madison Avenue at 61st Street last spring.
He recently filed a discrimination lawsuit against Barney’s and the NYPD.
Kayla Phillips of Brooklyn also came forward and indicated that she’ll sue after undercover cops stopped her after she paid for a $2500 designer purse at Barneys with her credit card.
It turns out, it doesn’t matter who you are. Even the most recognizable African Americans get racially profiled as they try to shop — just ask Oprah who was recently barred from buying a lavish $38,000 handbag in Switzerland.
Now supermodel Tyson Beckford shares his account of being racially profiled while shopping at Barneys.
The fashion superstar happened to exit the department store while PIX11 cameras were there. Beckford said,
“I might have the most recognizable face in the world. I still get followed all the time any time I go to a store. It’s sad.”
He also said that he regrets that“even though we have a black president,” young men of color have to assume they’ll be more closely watched in retail establishments. ”And it’s not just here,” Beckford told PIX11 News, it’s even at discount stores, he said.
Check out the video below: