Jay-Z - under
increasing pressure to back out of a collaboration with the luxury store
Barneys New York after it was accused of racially profiling two black customers
- said Saturday he's being unfairly "demonized" for just waiting to
hear all of the facts.
The rap mogul made his
first statement about the controversy in a posting on his website. He has come
under fire for remaining silent as news surfaced this week that two young black
people said Barneys profiled them after they purchased expensive items from
their Manhattan store.
An online petition and
Twitter messages from fans have been circulating this week, calling on the star
to bow out of his upcoming partnership with Barneys for the holiday season, which
will have the store selling items by top designers, inspired by Jay-Z, with
some of the proceeds going to his charity. He is also working with the store to
create its artistic holiday window display.
But Jay-Z - whose real
name is Shawn Carter - defended himself, saying that he hasn't spoken about it
because he's still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
"I move and speak
based on facts and not emotion," the statement said. "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?" he said,
referring to local newspaper headlines.
The two Barneys
customers, Trayon Christian and Kayla Phillips, said this week police detained
them after making expensive purchases.
Christian sued Barneys,
saying he was accused of fraud after using his debit card to buy a $349
Ferragamo belt in April. Philips filed a notice of claim saying she would sue
after detectives outside the store stopped her when she bought a $2,500 Celine
handbag in February.
As the criticism grew,
Barneys said Thursday it had retained a civil rights expert to help review its
procedures. The CEO of Barneys, Mark Lee, offered his "sincere regret and
deepest apologies."
Kirsten John Foy, an
official with the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, said he would
meet with Barneys officials on Tuesday to discuss the racial profiling
allegations.
Jay-Z - who rose from a
life of crime in Brooklyn to become one of the most heralded rappers and one of
entertainment's biggest superstars - has in the past called for a boycott of
labels perceived to be racist, and has become more political in recent years,
from speaking out about the killing of black teenager Trayvon Martin to
campaigning for President Barack Obama.
Jay-Z said in this
case, he's still trying to find out what happened -which is why he was silent.
"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," he added.
He also dismissed
reports that he would profit from the collaboration. He said he's "not
making a dime" from working with Barneys. Instead, his Shawn Carter
Foundation, which provides college scholarships to economically challenged
students, will get 25 percent of all sales from the collaboration.
"This money is going
to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their
education at institutions of higher learning," he said. "My idea was
born out of creativity and charity... not profit."
He also said that
"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," he said. "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."
Jay-Z said he
understood what it felt like to be racially profiled - but also didn't want to
jump to unfair conclusions.
"I am against
discrimination of any kind but if I make snap judgments, no matter who it's
towards, aren't I committing the same sin as someone who profiles?" he
asked. "I am no stranger to being profiled and I truly empathize with
anyone that has been put in that position. Hopefully this brings forth a
dialogue to effect real change."
--- Online: Jay-Z's
website: HTTP://LIFEANDTIMES.COM/
Follow Me On Twitter: @effiongeton
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