Rap mogul Shawn “Jay Z” Carter has responded to a petition aimed at getting him to end his partnership with Barneys, after the store was accused of racially profiling two black shoppers.
In a statement released on his website, Jay Z says he his “not making a dime” from his collection at Barneys and that the Shawn Carter Foundation is receiving 25% of all sales from the line. ” This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning,” the statement reads.
“I move and speak based on facts and not emotion. I haven’t made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys,” Jay Z writes. “Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?”
A Change.org petition started calling on the rapper to sever ties with the luxury retailer has garnered over 13,000 signatures and spawned a line of “Barneys New Slaves” t-shirts.
“I am against discrimination of any kind, but if I make snap judgements, no matter who it’s towards, aren’t I committing the same sin as someone who profiles?” Jay Z goes on to say. “I am no stranger to being profiled and I truly empathize with anyone that has been put in that position. Hopefully this brings forth a dialogue to effect real change.”
This week, Barneys was rocked when two black customers came forward claiming they were “shopped-and-frisked” after they bought expensive items at the store. Trayon Christian says he was arrested and held for over an hour after purchasing a $350 Ferragamo belt. Christian says police officers told him the debit card he used was fake. Kayla Phillips says she was swarmed by officers after she bought a $2,5000 Celine bag, accusing her of using a fraudulent card. Both have since filed suits against Barneys and the NYPD. Supermodel Tyson Beckford told PIX11 exclusively that even he has been profiled and followed while shopping at the store.
