Jay Z is wading even deeper into the recent Barneys racial profiling scandal, announcing that he will have "a leadership role" in the retailer's internal inquiry. The rapper said he is committed to continuing his collaboration with the luxury department store, especially now that they have quadrupled a proposed donation to the Shawn Carter Foundation.
"I am in a unique position to use my voice to affect change to this disturbing issue," Jay Z said in what is his second statement on the matter. "The easy position would have been to walk away and leave policymaking to others I will not leave the outcome to others. 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."
In separate incidents earlier this year, two New Yorkers were detained by police after purchasing expensive items at Barneys stores in Manhattan. Kayla Phillips, a 21-year-old nursing student, and Trayon Christian, a 19-year-old college student, are now suing the company for millions of dollars; Christian claims officers were summoned by clerks who doubted "how a young black man … could afford to purchase such an expensive belt".
As the story gained notoriety, community leaders asked Jay Z to speak out: the rapper was scheduled to launch a major Barneys team-up, BNY SCC, on 20 November. Almost 60,000 people signed a petition asking him to "withdraw his support" for the shop. Jay Z took his time to respond; when he did issue a statement, on 26 October, he complained he was being "demonised" for "waiting on facts" before making a decision.
In his new statement, Jay Z made that decision clear. "While I await the findings of the Attorney General's Office [investigation], 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," he wrote. Whereas his foundation was originally due to receive 25% of receipts from BNY SCC items, Barneys will now donate 100% of sales from the collection. The retailers have also committed to donating 10% of all other customer purchases made on 20 November, for a total of at least $1m.
"Barneys New York has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination," the company said. "As we have stated all along, if we learn any procedures or practices are not consistent with our zero-tolerance policy, we will immediately take corrective action including terminating [the employment of] those employees responsible."
Earlier this year, Forbes estimated Jay Z's net worth at approximately $475m (£295m).
