PARIS – French luxury store Hermes (search) has apologized to Oprah Winfrey (search) for turning her away from one of its Paris boutiques last week, saying when she came knocking the store was closed for a public relations event.
The talk show host and "an entourage" unsuccessfully tried to enter a Hermes boutique on the posh Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore at 6:45 p.m. on June 14, Hermes said in a statement.
Normal closing time is 6:30 p.m., though 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."
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox