“I wouldn't dare step a foot back in [that store again]. I'm so upset.”
Popular retailer Victoria’s Secret seems to have a lot to answer for after a recent Facebook Live video has gone viral. The video was taken in Oxford, Alabama, and shows a woman, Kimberly Houzah, emotionally describing getting kicked out of the store for no other reason than that she is black.
Here’s the video:
The clip was posted to Mediatakeout’s Facebook page before going viral. In it, Houzah says she and another black woman were asked to leave by an employee after another black person, unaffiliated with Houzah in any way, was caught shoplifting. Houzah says into the camera:
“I can buy anything in there I want. I wouldn't dare step a foot back in [that store again]. I'm so upset. I already didn't need to be spending the money, but I'm like you know what, I'm going to treat myself ... Why I gotta be put out? Because I happen to be black in Victoria's Secret?”
It seems that the answer to that final question is “yes,” and Victoria’s Secret has been very quick to own up to the racist behavior of the store employee who kicked Houzah out.
Victoria’s Secret took to Facebook to issue this statement on the matter:
Image via Facebook.
At the time of publication with the story unfolding, it was unknown what measures would be taken by the company beyond the termination of the responsible employee nor was it clear what recourse Houzah has in such a matter. But it’s certain that discussion pertaining to this incident won’t end here.
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