Roc Nation Sports agency founder and hip hop legend Jay Z is being asked by protestors to disassociate himself with high-end department store Barney's over the chain's alleged practice of racial profiling, according to the New York Daily News.
Change.Org has launched a pettiton seeking to have the man whose firm represents such star athletes as Kevin Durant, Victor Cruz, Robinson Cano and Geno Smith "end all partnerships" with Barney's after two separate instances this week in which black shoppers claimed they were racially targeted and later accused of theft by store officials simply because they made expensive purchases.
The user behind the change.org petition is also now selling "Barney's New Slaves" T-shirts with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
The firestorm of controversy erupted earlier this week when 19-year-old college student Trayon Christian told The News he had filed suit against the city after two undercover NYPD detectives accosted and detained him after he left Barney's flagship Madison Ave. store having purchased a pricey Ferragamo belt.
Less than 24-hours later, 21-year-old Kayla Phillips relayed details of her own experience with the store stemming from an incident last February when she bought a $2,500 designer bag, only to be stopped and hassled into showing ID by cops as she left the store. She's since filed a $5 million notice of claim with the city notifying them of her intention to sue.
Thus far Jay Z, who's slated to begin selling a limited-edition line of clothes and jewelry at the store on Nov. 20 has not commented.
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