The Daily News reports that hip-hop mogul Jay Z, in an effort to turn a looming public relations disaster to his advantage, announced Friday that he plans to move forward with a collaboration with Barneys, vowing to tackle allegations of racial profiling “head on.”
He released the statement five days before the scheduled unveiling of his fashion collection at the department store, which is under investigation, along with Macy’s, on allegations that African-American customers were racially profiled.
“I have agreed to move forward with the launch of [the Barneys New York Shawn Corey Carter] collection under the condition that I have a leadership role and seat on a council specifically convened to deal with the issue of racial profiling,” said Jay Z, whose given name is Shawn Carter, according to the News.
He pledged that 100 percent of the proceeds, instead of the 25 percent from the original deal, would be allocated to the Shawn Carter Foundation. The foundation, which provides educational opportunities to youth in need, would also receive 10 percent of all retail sales from Barneys stores and online after the launch.
“I am in a unique position to use my voice to (e)ffect change to this disturbing issue,” said the artist who hails from the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn, the New says.
Jay Z’s legal team has also reached out to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office to open a dialogue about its probes into Macy’s and Barneys, a source close to the investigation confirmed to the Daily News. The probes are “active and ongoing.”
Read more at the Daily News.