Bethenny Frankel suggested she was “treated like an interloper” at Chanel as she tried to walk in when she wasn’t “looking wealthy.” According to the star, she returned to the establishment wearing nicer clothes and was almost immediately let in.
She alleged her first encounter was “elitist” and “exclusionary,” which she called a “crime.” Bethenny, who starred on Real Housewives of New York, is now an influencer who shares her take on various brands.
According to Bethenny in a recent Instagram post, a man working at a Chanel store in Chicago barely opened the door for her more than a few inches, and he asked if she had an “appointment.”
She said in a video that she was “treated like an interloper.”
In the caption of her post, Bethenny further addressed the situation.
“Crime is at an all time high and security is critical. I could easily call one of my salespeople and get on this list. That’s besides the point. I was straight of a plane in a sweaty tshirt and not dolled up or looking wealthy,” she wrote. “There are several ways to convey a message and this way was rudeness and elitist and exclusionary, which is also a crime.”
“In business, first impressions are lasting. I would never want anyone to feel lesser than, particularly from a luxury brand making billions off of people buying into the hype,” she went on. “Chanel is a beautiful brand with timeless classic pieces. Being kind to customers of all socioeconomic backgrounds is also timeless and classic.”
Soon after, Bethenny uploaded a video before returning to the store “dressed much differently” than yesterday.
“If they let me in because of how I look, Christmas is cancelled,” she said. “Let’s do this.”
Someone then filmed her walking up to the store, and a man almost immediately let her in.
She later came back out, approached the camera, and said, “No problem today.”
“It’s important that I mention,” wrote Bethenny in the caption, “that the three gentleman outside (not present yesterday) were lovely.”