Jay-Z Speaks Out About Barneys Racial Profiling Debacle, Asks Why He’s Being "Demonized" & Says He’s NOT Making Millions Off Collaboration

Plenty of people have been itching to hear from Jay Z ever since the Barneys racial profiling debacle occured, and now he’s speaking out.  

Check out what Hov had to say about why he waited so long to speak out, and why the only people hurt by him ending his collaboration with the deartment store are the kids of his Foundation who will benefit….

Jay and his collaboration with Barneys has been under fire since 19-year-old student Trayon Christian sued both the department store and NYPD last week, claiming he was racially profiled after rightfully purchasing a Ferragamo belt.  Multiple stories of racial profiling at Barneys surfaced after Trayon’s suit made national news…and people soon started calling on Jay Z to end his Holiday collaboration with the lxury department store.

So Mr. Carter spoke out today, not to state he was ending his partnership, but to explain why he didn’t speak out sooner.  On his Life+Times site, Jay explained his thoughts about the entire situation, and paid special attention to the explanation of why he’s NOT making millions of this project like reports are stating:

This collaboration lives in a place of giving and is about the Foundation. I am not making a dime from this collection; I do not stand to make millions, as falsely reported. I need to make that fact crystal clear. The Shawn Carter Foundation is the beneficiary and the foundation is receiving 25% of all sales from the collaboration, 10% of all sales generated in the store on November 20th and an additional donation from Barneys. This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning. My idea was born out of creativity and charity… not profit.

 

He continued:

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. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately? The negligent, erroneous reports and attacks on my character, intentions, and the spirit of this collaboration have forced me into a statement I didn’t want to make without the full facts. Making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project, wouldn’t hurt Barneys or Shawn Carter, but all the people that stand a chance at higher education. I have been working with my team ever since the situation was brought to my attention to get to the bottom of these incidents and at the same time find a solution that doesn’t harm all those that stand to benefit from this collaboration.

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? 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. – Shawn “JAY Z” Carter

Makes sense.  Thoughts?

Photo: Beyonce’s Tumblr

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Original Post Source – http://www.theybf.com/