Winfrey calls off Hermes boycott

Oprah Winfrey has called off her boycott of the French luxury retailer Hermes International after the company’s president of U.S. operations apologized on the air for its Paris store having turned her away last June, the French news agency Agence France-Presse reported.

As her daytime talk show opened its 20th season Monday, Winfrey told viewers she had felt humiliated at not being allowed into the store to shop. She disputed Hermes’ statement that she arrived after it had closed.

Robert Chavez, the president of Hermes USA, appeared on the program to say Hermes has since introduced sensitivity training. “I’d like to say to you that we’re really sorry for all of those unfortunate circumstances that you encountered when you tried to visit our store in Paris,” Chavez said.

From a Times staff writer