Jay Z will keep his special line of holiday goods at Barneys New York despite the furor over the “shop and frisk” controversy at the store, he said in a statement Friday night.
Jay had been pressured to drop the line with the retailer after two innocent African-American shoppers were questioned by police in separate incidents after making expensive purchases at Barneys, which also denies any wrongdoing.
But the music and fashion mogul issued a statement on his Web site Life +Times, explaining: “While I await the findings of the attorney general’s office, I have agreed to move forward with the launch of BNY SCC collection under the condition that I have a leadership role and seat on a council specifically convened to deal with the issue of racial profiling.”
Jay Z’s statement continued: “I am in a unique position to use my voice to effect change to this disturbing issue. The easy position would have been to walk away and leave policy making to others hoping that someone addresses the problem.” But, “I will take this into my own hands with full power to recommend, review and revise policies and guidelines moving forward. I am choosing to take this head on.”
Proceeds from the Barneys line will benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, and is expected to generate $3 million. A launch party scheduled for next week had been up in the air.
Barneys said of Jay Z’s decision: “Moving forward, Mr. Carter’s leadership in this process will further strengthen the industry’s ability to ensure that anyone who walks into a retail establishment is treated equally and with respect.”
City Council members Jumaane Williams and Deborah Rose, and members of the NYPD, will hold a hearing on Wednesday night at City Hall. Two days later, a meeting will gather retailers including Macy’s, Barneys and Bloomingdale’s, plus the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Sharpton earlier raised the possibility of a boycott of the stores. He told Page Six that unless they promise to take action to mitigate racial profiling, “We will make a move before the holidays.”
