The Empire star opened up in latest Lenny newsletter about shopping at a Chanel store in Chicago and not exactly getting the star treatment. She asked the saleswoman if she could look at some eyeglasses — only to be told she should go to the store across the street since it sells eyeglasses and the Chanel store only has shades.
“She told me the name of the other store again and exactly how to get there and let me know that they had lots of different frames, including Chanel. I’d love to pretend she was being polite, and I’m sure she would love to pretend she was polite, but she was actually condescending,” wrote Sidibe.
The experience wasn’t unusual for her, she says. She went through something similar at a Dior counter.
“The saleswoman literally took a gloss out of my hand and put it back down in the display case.”
“No matter how dressed up I get, I’m never going to be able to dress up my skin color to look like what certain people perceive to be an actual customer,” she continued. “Depending on the store, I either look like a thief or a waste of time. There doesn’t seem to be a middle ground between no attention and too much attention.”
Side says isn’t entirely sure why she was being mistreated by the saleswoman, but suspects it had something to do with the color of her skin or her weight.
“I suspect it’s because I’m black, but it could also be because I’m fat. Maybe my whole life, every time I thought someone was being racist, they were actually mistreating me because I’m fat. That sucks too. That’s not OK.”
Not OK at ALL. They should be throwing themselves at Queen Sidibe’s feet.
But I do know what it’s like though. I’ve been ignored on Rodeo Drive maaaany times. Armani and Dior Hommes are THE WORST offenders. Even when I’ve been determined to buy something, they make it as difficult as possible and ignore me for as long as possible. GRRR.
You can read Gabourey’s complete essay here.
(via Hollywood Reporter; Photos: Pacific Coast News)
