Bethenny Frankel blasts 'elitist' Chanel after she isn't allowed in Chicago store without an 'appointment': 'I didn't realize that we're not allowed to walk into stores anymore'

Bethenny Frankel unloaded on the fashion house Chanel on Wednesday after she was denied entry to one of its stores during a trip to Chicago.

The 53-year-old former Real Housewives Of New York City star posted an impassioned video to her Instagram account describing how she had tried to do some shopping at the Chanel store while dressed in casual clothing.

But when she arrived, a security guard allegedly wouldn't let her enter because she didn't have an 'appointment.

However, Bethenny — who reportedly split from her fiancé Paul Bernon two months ago — noted she was also wearing casual clothes and carrying a 'basic-b**** purse, though it wasn't clear if her attire could have played an unspoken role in her being refused entry.

DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for Chanel to comment. 

 

Bethenny Frankel unloaded on the fashion house Chanel on Wednesday after she was denied entry to one of its stores during a trip to Chicago

The 53-year-old former Real Housewives Of New York City star posted an impassioned video to her Instagram account describing how she had tried to do some shopping but couldn't without an 'appointment'

Bethenny noted that she was visiting the Second City at the start of her clip, which she filmed on the street while wearing a simple white T-shirt with sunglasses perched on her raven tresses and gleaming diamond stud earrings.

The reality star joked that the guard she spoke to was barely willing to open the door, making a crack so small that '[the rat from Disney's] Ratatouille couldn't fit in there.'

'"Hello? Do you have an appointment?"' she recalled the man saying, and she compared him to the hulking Lurch from the Addams Family films.

'I’m like, "No, I don’t have an appointment. I have a credit card. I have a bag of Garrett’s popcorn, a basic b**** purse. Am I not allowed to come in at 3:54 on a Tuesday?" Evidently not,' she said.

Bethenny seethed at allegedly being 'treated like you’re an interloper.'

'I didn’t realize we weren’t allowed to walk into stores anymore. Gotta get a pap smear appointment and also to walk into Chanel. No big deal,' she added dismissively.

She had a more measured response in her post's caption, in which she said that 'security is critical' because 'crime is at an all-time high.'

However, crime has been decreasing for years, according to FBI statistics, via ABC News.

Although there was an uptick in some forms of crime at the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic, crime has continued to decrease, and as of 2024 it is now at one of its lowest levels in the past 50 years, contrary to Bethenny's perception. 

Although business leaders have claimed that retail theft, and particularly organized retail crime, is on the rise, those claims also don't hold water.

After Walgreens claimed in early 2022 that retail theft accounted for its increasing rate of shrink compared to the previous year, the company's Chief Financial Officer James Kehoe admitted in January 2023 that 'Maybe we cried too much last year.'

Late last year, a report by retail analysts at William Blair determined that retailer complaints about rising crime were overblown.

'Companies are also likely using the opportunity to draw attention away' from decreased profit margins and higher spending on promotions and a failure to properly plan for inventory needs, the report said, according to CNN. 

In her caption, Bethenny added that she 'could easily call one of my salespeople and get on this [appointment] list. 

Bethenny noted that she was visiting the Second City at the start of her clip, which she filmed on the street while wearing a simple white T-shirt with sunglasses perched on her raven tresses and gleaming diamond stud earrings

She noted that she was dressed casually with a bag of 'Garrett's popcorn' and a 'basic-b**** purse.' The guard, whom she compared to Lurch from The Addams Family, would allegedly barely open the door for her.

Bethenny complained about needing an appointment to shop now while claiming that she understood the need for security measures amid an alleged rise in crime

However, crime has continued to drop in 2024, and crime levels are currently at one of the lowest points in 50 years, despite retailers' overblown claims that shoplifting and organized retail theft are on the rise

Ironically, Bethenny's previous Instagram post from Chicago showed her displaying a pricy denim Chanel handbag

'That’s besides the point. I was straight off a plane in a sweaty tshirt and not dolled up or looking wealthy,' she continued, seemingly suggesting that she might have had a different experience if she arrived in a luxurious outfit.

'There are several ways to convey a message and this way was rudeness and elitist and exclusionary, which is also a crime,' she claimed. 'In business, first impressions are lasting. 

'I would never want anyone to feel lesser than, particularly from a luxury brand making billions off of people buying into the hype. Chanel is a beautiful brand with timeless classic pieces,' she declared. 'Being kind to customers of all socioeconomic backgrounds is also timeless and classic.'

Ironically, Bethenny's previous Instagram post from her trip to the Windy City featured her in a dark blue denim off-the-shoulder dress while carrying a blue denim Chanel handbag, which would have cost several thousand dollars.