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| Oprah Winfrey 'racism row' a 'misunderstanding' | Oprah Winfrey 'racism row' a 'misunderstanding' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The owner of a shop in Zurich where US talk show host Oprah Winfrey says she encountered racism has called the incident a "misunderstanding". | The owner of a shop in Zurich where US talk show host Oprah Winfrey says she encountered racism has called the incident a "misunderstanding". |
| Winfrey, one of the world's richest women, claimed an assistant refused to serve her in an upmarket handbag shop. | Winfrey, one of the world's richest women, claimed an assistant refused to serve her in an upmarket handbag shop. |
| She was apparently told one of the bags on display was "too expensive" for her. | She was apparently told one of the bags on display was "too expensive" for her. |
| Shop owner Trudie Gotz told the BBC that Winfrey was "absolutely allowed" to look at the $35,000 (£22,500) bag, which was kept behind a screen. | Shop owner Trudie Gotz told the BBC that Winfrey was "absolutely allowed" to look at the $35,000 (£22,500) bag, which was kept behind a screen. |
| "My salesperson wanted to give her the handbag in her hand. But she didn't want to take the bag," claimed Gotz. | "My salesperson wanted to give her the handbag in her hand. But she didn't want to take the bag," claimed Gotz. |
| She said her assistant had worked in the Trois Pommes store "for a few years and takes care of the most spoilt customers from all over the world", adding, "she is really a correct sales person". | |
| 'Didn't understand' | 'Didn't understand' |
| Winfrey, who stars in Lee Daniels' new film The Butler, visited Zurich last month to attend singer Tina Turner's wedding. Her programme The Oprah Winfrey Show is not shown in Switzerland. | Winfrey, who stars in Lee Daniels' new film The Butler, visited Zurich last month to attend singer Tina Turner's wedding. Her programme The Oprah Winfrey Show is not shown in Switzerland. |
| Speaking to US TV show Entertainment Tonight, she said: "I go into a store and I say to the woman, 'Excuse me, may I see the bag right above your head?' and she says to me, 'No. It's too expensive.'" | Speaking to US TV show Entertainment Tonight, she said: "I go into a store and I say to the woman, 'Excuse me, may I see the bag right above your head?' and she says to me, 'No. It's too expensive.'" |
| When Winfrey insisted, the shop assistant allegedly replied: "No, no you don't want to see that one, you want to see this one because that one will cost too much. You will not be able to afford that." | When Winfrey insisted, the shop assistant allegedly replied: "No, no you don't want to see that one, you want to see this one because that one will cost too much. You will not be able to afford that." |
| The star said she left the shop calmly without arguing, but that the experience was proof that racism continues to be a problem. | The star said she left the shop calmly without arguing, but that the experience was proof that racism continues to be a problem. |
| "There's two different ways to handle it," she said. | "There's two different ways to handle it," she said. |
| "I could've had the whole blow-up thing... but it still exists, of course it does." | "I could've had the whole blow-up thing... but it still exists, of course it does." |
| Ms Gotz did not call into question Winfrey's perception of the events. | Ms Gotz did not call into question Winfrey's perception of the events. |
| "I didn't take care of [Winfrey]. I'm sure she felt like this - but my salesgirl promised me she took care of [her] really the best she could. So it must have been a misunderstanding," she said. | "I didn't take care of [Winfrey]. I'm sure she felt like this - but my salesgirl promised me she took care of [her] really the best she could. So it must have been a misunderstanding," she said. |
| Ms Gotz said her assistant spoke both Italian and English, "but her English isn't as good". | Ms Gotz said her assistant spoke both Italian and English, "but her English isn't as good". |
| "She tried to show Mrs Oprah the same style in other qualities, because maybe she didn't understand what she wanted." | "She tried to show Mrs Oprah the same style in other qualities, because maybe she didn't understand what she wanted." |
| Winfrey's claims come amid a political row over plans by some Swiss towns to ban asylum-seekers from some public places. | Winfrey's claims come amid a political row over plans by some Swiss towns to ban asylum-seekers from some public places. |
| The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne says human rights groups have likened the plans - which include banning asylum-seekers from swimming pools, playing fields and libraries - to apartheid. | The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne says human rights groups have likened the plans - which include banning asylum-seekers from swimming pools, playing fields and libraries - to apartheid. |
| Officials say the curbs, which will also see asylum-seekers housed in special centres, are aimed at preventing tensions with residents. | Officials say the curbs, which will also see asylum-seekers housed in special centres, are aimed at preventing tensions with residents. |
| About 48,000 people are currently seeking asylum in Switzerland. It has twice as many asylum seekers as the European average. | About 48,000 people are currently seeking asylum in Switzerland. It has twice as many asylum seekers as the European average. |
| Winfrey's interview is a public relations disaster for Switzerland, our correspondent says. | Winfrey's interview is a public relations disaster for Switzerland, our correspondent says. |