Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Jon Stewart Rips Jay Z For Barneys Hypocrisy
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 7, 2013
Modified Nov 7, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 7, 2013
Modified Nov 7, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Barneys New York has been widely condemned in recent weeks after at least two customers came forward to sue the retailer for unjustly accusing them of thievery. Jay Z has also come under fire for not withdrawing from his business relationship with the company. But as Jon Stewart and Larry Wilmore explained on The Daily Show last night, this is actually a moment to celebrate: "White people have been watching their musical icons sell out to corporations for decades. It's the American dream and we're finally achieving it. You go Jay Z Penny!"
The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook
It may be okay that Jay Z has embraced being a middle aged sell-out, but Barneys insiders and workers tell the Huffington Post that racist culture in ingrained at Barneys. “If you’re black and come in with an entourage, you won’t be followed because they’ll be like ‘Oh, that’s somebody famous,’" the employee told them. "But if you come in by yourself or with one other person, then you’re going to be followed.”
For their part, Barneys CEO Mark Lee publicly apologized last week to the two African-American customers who claim they were profiled in the store, while at the same time insisting that this was all the NYPD's fault.
Tagged
barneys
daily show
jay-z
jayz
Jon Stewart
racial profiling
shop and frisk
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .