99 Problems and Racial Profiling is One

Jay-Z’s world has recently gotten a bit more complicated after being dragged into a racial profiling case with Barney’s Department Store.

The rapper and Barney’s Department Store are currently in a promotional partnership, which involves the creation of a holiday collection of limited-edition apparel and  accessories; profits from which will benefit his Shawn Carter Foundation.

It was made public that the high-end department store has been accused of racial profiling after a young African American male claimed that he was stopped by police officers who believed he must have been using a stolen credit when he made an expensive purchase at the Manhattan store. The man was accused of debit card fraud, then handcuffed and detained at the police station.

Because of his African-American descent, Jay-Z has been taking a whole lot of criticism these past couple of weeks for not taking immediate action against Barney’s; people are urging him to cancel his deal with the store.

“I haven’t made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barney’s,” the rapper and business mogul said in a statement posted on his website right after the controversy arose. “Why am I being demonized, denounced, and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?” he goes on to say.

As for Barneys, they are insisting that they honor their “No Discrimination” policy and hoping that the issue can be resolved soon. As of now, no reports of a meeting or any kind of progress have been made public.