Designer bag store Hermes apologized in public to Oprah Winfrey for the incident that took place in Paris, where Oprah was turned away by shop assistants, who argued that they had been "having problems with North Africans".

The store also said she wasn't stopped from shopping on racial problems, but because there was a private shopping event taking place.

The statement said: "Hermes regrets not having been able to accommodate Ms. Winfrey to provide her with the service and care it strives to provide to all its customers.

"Hermes apologizes for any offense taken due to such circumstances.
"However, Ms. Winfrey and her team wanted to shop when a private PR event was being set up inside"

Yesterday, Oprah Winfrey personally called Robert Chavez, president of Herm's in America to told him that she will never shop from his stores.