Swiss Shopkeeper Tells Oprah She Can’t Afford Handbag, Refuses to Let Her See It

Question—who doesn’t recognize Oprah Winfrey?

Apparently a shopkeeper in Switzerland doesn’t. And that shopkeeper made national news after refusing to let Winfrey see a handbag she’d inquired about, claiming the $40,0000 bag was “too expensive” for the multi-millionaire (or is it billionaire?) media mogul.

According to TMZ, the oh-so-considerate shopkeeper just didn’t want Winfrey to have her dreams crushed by the bag’s high price tag.

In Winfrey’s words:

"One more time, I tried. I said, 'But I really do just want to see that one,' and the shopkeeper said, 'Oh, I don't want to hurt your feelings,' and I said, 'Okay, thank you so much. You're probably right, I can't afford it.' And I walked out of the store."

Of course the Swiss are now apologizing for the incident, saying the shopkeeper acted “terribly wrong.”

I’ll say.

Here’s another question. Did Winfrey enter the shop dressed in her get up from The Color Purple? If so, maybe the shopkeeper should be given a pass.

But, really, I’m guessing—no. 

Winfrey didn’t come in the shop dressed as Sofia. Instead, she came dressed in her black skin.

Sigh. 

Folks, I fear we’ve just seen another episode of Same Old, Same Old, starring O and a nameless Swiss shopkeeper.

Fine. Maybe there is a more accurate explanation—

• The shopkeeper was too lazy to get up and retrieve the bag, so she pulled out the old “You can’t afford this” line as an excuse to stay put and chill.
• The shopkeeper had been saving all year for the bag (with her employee discount it would cost a mere $32,000) and wasn’t about to let it get away—Oprah or no Oprah.
• The shopkeeper was mistaken—she thought Oprah was inquiring about the $120,000 bag sitting next to the $40,000 bag, and like, only God could afford that.
• Oprah really did enter the shop dressed as Sofia, or maybe in that other outfit from Beloved.
• The shopkeeper had an idea that no black person could possibly afford an expensive handbag.

(How’d that last one sneak in there?)

Do you have another explanation? Add it to the list!