Being a famous or rich individual doesn’t always guarantee special service — even from a high-end business.
Savannah James and her best friend are now speaking about a disappointing encounter at a luxury clothing store where her status got her past the front door — but not proper treatment or help.
And the lack of assistance seemingly cost one employee their job.
A recent admission from LeBron James’ wife has her at the center of a viral story circulating online.
On Aug. 6, Savannah and her podcast co-host April McDaniel opened up on the “Question Everything” podcast about her shopping in Milan, Italy.
McDaniel, Savannah’s friend of more than 15 years, told podcast host Danielle Robay about the time they visited a Hermès store, where she claims they were treated “like sh-t.”
“What?” a shocked Robay replied.
McDaniel didn’t explain exactly what the saleswoman did to offend them but said it was bad enough for her to face some serious repercussions.
“And fired the lady,” she exclaimed. “I said, ‘We’ll be back for you. I’ll be right back. Baby, you caught the wrong one today.’”
James explained that they “had an appointment” at the Italian flagship store, before she was cut off once again by McDaniel.
McDaniel clarified that James is “very nice,” but she is the opposite.
“We’ll be back here,” she recalled telling the salesperson. “The whole store is closing down. We’re bringing out Crocs and everything. You want some smoke? You done caught one.”
Robay asked if the store corrected the issue.
James replied, “Oh yea,” twice, as McDaniel followed up, adding, “We was in the private room with champagne and macarons. We was up in there doing it.”
That wasn’t the only luxury retailer that failed to recognize the status of the “Everybody’s Crazy” co-hosts.
James, this time, explained that they were in a Chanel store in Paris when she went to touch a bag. She said one male salesperson who witnessed this sternly said, “Don’t touch.”
The mother of three said, “It caught me off guard because typically when it’s like an exclusive situation, it’ll say don’t touch. I can read.”
But James insisted there was no such signage.
McDaniel, who’s already proved she doesn’t mind fighting fire with fire, said she told the salesman, “Oh, you’re fired.”
“I called on the phone. They shut that whole store down,” McDaniel added.
Fans had mixed reviews and questions about the ladies’ stories online.
One person said, “They still got your money, so what did you prove?” Another person who agreed typed, “I would NEVER fight to shop somewhere who doesn’t respect me. That is WILD!”
Many applauded McDaniel for standing up for herself and her friends, while others suggested they spend money within their own community.
“I love friends like April for Savannah cause yeah – do you know who you talking to?! Tuhhhh Real friend!!!” said one person.
A fourth person suggested, “Shop black owned! There are so many talented black purse designers.”
This isn’t the first time a prominent Black figure has had issues with Hermès.
Oprah Winfrey encountered a similar incident in 2005, when they refused to let her in at their Paris location.
Her best friend and “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King recalled the incident with Entertainment Tonight.
She said there were other shoppers in the store when they arrived, but the employees would not let them in after failing to recognize Winfrey.
“Oprah describes it herself as ‘one of the most humiliating moments of her life,” she said, “She’s really OK. Her position is, ‘I will shop where people appreciate my business, and I don’t believe that any longer includes Hermès.”
It’s been reported that the “Beloved” star arrived at the store at 6:45 p.m. despite it having a closing time of 6:30 p.m. While they usually make exceptions for celebrities, they claimed there was a public relations event happening later that evening.
This is the incident with Oprah with Hermes in London.
— I Stan Black Women and Democracy🦋tiredofit10 (@tiredofit10) August 8, 2026
Look at what I underlined. My response: she recognized that she was BLACK! pic.twitter.com/FJIJ4Zs4i4
In their apology statement, they wrote, “Hermès regrets not having been able to welcome Madame Oprah Winfrey and the people accompanying her to give them all the attention and service that Hermes is committed to giving each of its clients in the world.”
The statement ended with them extending sincere regrets for the misunderstanding.
Years later, Winfrey had a similar experience in 2013.
A firestorm blew up online after the OWN founder gave an interview with Entertainment Tonight, in which she recalled a clerk at an upscale Zurich boutique refusing to show her a handbag.
Winfrey alleged she was told she could not afford the $38,000 Tom Ford Jennifer tote and said it proved that ‘racism is still an issue’.
“There’s two different ways to handle it,” she said, according to the BBC. I could’ve had the whole blow-up thing… but it still exists, of course it does.”
The boutique owner defended her employee after the OWN founder said a salesperson refused to show her a $38,000 crocodile handbag.
Oprah was called “over-sensitive” as the owner blamed the incident on a possible language barrier. The Swiss tourism office later apologized, and the employee did not face punishment.
