Jay-Z Speaks On Facts, Not Emotion, Amidst Barneys Kerfuffle

Jay-Z is facing mounting pressure to drop a holiday collaboration with Barneys New York following the store's recent racial profiling scandal involving two black customers. But, while the media ties itself into knots over the controversy, Hova is doing what he does best — keeping his cool. Yesterday, he issued a level-headed statement, in which he requested patience and understanding from the quick-to-temper public.

"I move and speak based on facts and not emotion," his statement declared. "I haven't made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?"

The answer: The American media has forgotten what anything other than a knee-jerk reaction feels like. On the other hand, given Jay-Z's past record of boycotting labels accused of racial profiling, it's not entirely surprising for people to expect some level of action from the celebrity, sooner or later. So, while fans pepper Twitter with their "ban Barneys" demands and an online petition makes the rounds, the rapper is trying to think, before just pulling the plug on the collaboration. He was quick to note that he does not stand to profit from the partnership: "This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning." He continued, "My idea was born out of creativity and charity... not profit."

To jog your memory, the scandals in question surround the accusations of two Barneys shoppers, Trayon Christian and Kayla Phillips. Christian sued Barneys following an April incident, in which he was accused of fraud after using his debit card to buy a $349 Ferragamo belt. Philips claims that she was stopped by detectives back in February, when she bought a $2,500 Celine handbag. She has filed a notice of claim and plans to sue. Barneys CEO Mark Lee has apologized for the incidents, while the company says they've hired a civil rights expert to review its procedures. (Huffington Post)