Subscribe
Hellobeautiful Featured Video
CLOSE

21-year-old nursing student, Kayla Phillips has come forward for being racially profiled at Barneys shortly after seeing that 19-year-old college student, Trayon Christian was accused of stealing when he purchased a $350 Salvatore Ferragamo belt at the same luxury department store.

Phillips is reporting that she was nabbed after purchasing a $2500 orange suede Céline bag in February and is now filing a $5 million claim. The Home Depot employee and Canarsie resident told New York Daily News that she’s wanted this drool-worthy bag for a long time and that it was always out of stock, so she was excited to go to the luxury department store and get it. She used her tax money and new Bank of America bank account to make the big purchase. Phillips was using her temporary card that is typically issued when a new account is open. She also had her newly delivered card with her name on it in her bag as well. Phillips made it all the way to the subway when she says she was “attacked” by three officers–two men and one woman.

Must Read: The Ultimate Online Shopping Guide For Moms [PHOTOS]

Phillips said, “Two of them attacked me and pushed me against a wall, and the other two appeared in front of me, blocking the turnstile.” Phillips asked the cops why they were stopping her and the female officer allegedly said, “If you were a victim of identity theft, if someone was trying to use your hard-earned money, wouldn’t you want us to investigate?”

The cops swarmed around Phillips, demanding to know what she purchased, wanting to see her ID and card, all the while being very “rough” with Phillips. The cops kept asking why she purchased the bag with a card with no name on it.

Barneys has released the following statement on their Facebook Page after the Trayon Christian incident hit the news yesterday:

Phillips’ mom, Wendy Ellie called Barneys hypocritical for questioning Black shoppers when they do business deals with Hip-Hop artists like Jay Z. “It’s not fair . . . the two individuals who have had these experiences listen to Jay Z and Beyoncé, who wear designer clothes. These kids also like nice things, and they were treated awfully,” Elie said.

What do you beauties think about Phillips coming out now about her story?

LIKE HelloBeautiful On Facebook!

Related Stories:

College Student Arrested For ‘Shopping While Black,’ Sues Barney’s & NYPD

WTF?! 21-Year-Old White Girl Boasts Racist African Bday Party On Facebook [PHOTOS]

Check Out This Gallery Of The The Most Powerful Black Women To Follow On Twitter!

15 Of The Most Powerful Women To Follow On Twitter
0 photos

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.