Oprah Winfrey Plans to Discuss "Racist" Hermes on TV  6/27/05

American talk show host Oprah Winfrey believes she was refused entry to the Hermes shop in Paris, France because she is black, and she is planning to discuss the incident when her TV show resumes later this year (SEP05).

The luxury goods company was forced to issue an apology to Winfrey last week (22JUN05), after the talk show host was turned away at the door of the Paris store earlier this month (14JUN05), while she was shopping for a gift for pal Tina Turner.

A friend of Winfrey, who was recently named the most powerful celebrity in the US by Forbes magazine, tells the New York Daily News, "If it had been Celine Dion or Britney Spears or Barbra Streisand, there is no way they would not be let in that store."

Her spokesperson adds, "Oprah does have plans to discuss the incident on air when she returns in September."