Barney’s New York accused of racial profiling

Trayon Christian filed a discrimination suit this week aganist Barneys and the NYPD of racial profiling  An African-American male, Trayon Christian 19, says that he was falsely accused of using a fake debit card after he bought a Ferragamo belt  for $349 at the Barneys flagship on Madison Avenue New York in  April. Its being reported by The  New York Daily News,  that  Mr .Christian was approached and stopped by two undercover cops that Barneys  may have tipped  off about his  credit  card  being  fake after he left the store, Christian was  then detained and questioned.  This action made Christian  file a law  suit against Barney’s for  racial discrimination.

Kayla Phillips who is 21,  also  came forward and  told The New York Dailey News today that she, too, was  also accused of fraud after purchasing a $2,500 Céline bag at the Madison Avenue store in February.  Phillips,  said that she bought the bag with her temporary debit card, and moments after exiting the store, was surrounded by undercover cops inside a nearby subway station.

Both Christian and Phillips were reportedly asked  questions concerning their finances, with the cops trying   to figure out  how they  were able  to purchase such expensive products. Barneys  has denied that the store’s staffs  were the ones that called the  police and  that were not involved in the situation. However, Barney does have a task force of law enforcement officials at its store to protect it from fraud.

Jay Z who recently  collaborated with Barney’s to sell products for the Christmas season has not yet  responded..  Also Civil Rights Group Seeks Meeting With Barneys CEO In Wake Of Racial Profiling Claims

Barneys posted the following statement on its Facebook page:

Barneys New York typically does not comment on pending litigation. In this instance, we feel compelled to note that after carefully reviewing the incident of last April, it is clear that no employee of Barneys New York was involved in the pursuit of any action with the individual other than the sale. Barneys New York has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination and we stand by our long history in support of all human rights.