Hermes apologizes for turning away Oprah

Thursday, June 23rd 2005, 11:05 am

By: News On 6

PARIS (AP) _ The luxury store Hermes has apologized to Oprah Winfrey for turning her away from one of its Paris boutiques last week, saying it was closed for a public relations event when she came knocking.

The talk show host and ``an entourage'' unsuccessfully tried to enter an Hermes boutique on Paris' posh Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore at 6:45 p.m. on June 14, Hermes said in a statement.

The store's normal closing time is 6:30 p.m., although high-end shops are known to make exceptions for celebrities. On that particular night, however, ``a private public relations event was being prepared inside,'' the statement said.

``Hermes regrets not having been able to welcome Madame Oprah Winfrey and the people accompanying her to give them all the attention and service that Hermes is committed to giving each of its clients in the world,'' said the statement released Tuesday.

``Hermes expresses its sincere regrets for any misunderstanding that these circumstances could have caused.''