US News

Barneys CEO hires civil rights expert

Barneys has hired a civil rights expert to review how they treat customers at the high end shop after two black shoppers claimed they were interrogated by police on their pricey purchases because of the color of their skin.

“Barneys New York believes that no customer should have the unacceptable experience described in recent media reports, and we offer our sincere regret and deepest apologies,” said CEO Mark Lee in a statement that he posted to Facebook.

“To this end, we are conducting a thorough review of our practices and procedures as they relate to these matters to ensure that they reflect our continued commitment to fairness and equality.”

Michael Yaki, who serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, has been retained to review the operations and procedures at the store, where he will have unrestricted access.

Lee said the store has also reached out to community leaders “to begin a dialogue on this important issue.”

Two young black customers Trayon Christian, 19, of Queens and Kayla Phillips, 21, of Brooklyn charged that they were accused of credit card fraud after making purchases at the Upper East Side shop.

Kayla Phillips (left) has come forward to say she was discriminated against at Barneys, much like Trayon Christian (right).James Messerschmidt, AP, Facebook

Christian said undercover cops harassed him outside of the store in April and asked him how a “young black man” could afford a $350 Ferragamo belt. He was cuffed him and locked in a cell for two hours.

Police confronted Phillips in February after she purchased a $2,500 Celine bag from the shop to ask her why she used a temporary debit card.

Both have filed lawsuits against the NYPD and the department store.

Meanwhile, Mayor Bloomberg encouraged those who felt that they were treated unfairly because of their race to file a complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board or the Human Rights Commission.

“We take every complaint seriously,” he said at a press conference yesterday.