Black Influencer and Family Sue Louis Vuitton for Racial Discrimination
A high-end brand, Louis Vuitton, is facing a lawsuit from a Black influencer, her daughter, and a friend, who claim they were subjected to racial discrimination as loyal customers. Tracy Renee Williams, a VIP customer and social media influencer, preordered $50,000 worth of merchandise in 2022, but instead of receiving the items, she received an email stating that Louis Vuitton was no longer willing to do business with her.
The email, which Williams described as "appalling," instructed her to no longer patronize the brand’s boutiques or attempt to order products online or in person. Williams claimed that she was told by a white manager at a Beverly Hills Louis Vuitton storefront that she was no longer welcome to shop at the store and would be arrested if she returned.
According to the lawsuit, Williams’ daughter, Brandi, has also been a victim of racial discrimination by Louis Vuitton. Brandi claimed that a white manager accused her of spending drug money during a shopping spree last year. Williams also alleged that her social media presence, which is largely driven by showcasing her luxury purchases from the brand, has declined significantly, resulting in a loss of roughly $40,000 in revenue.
Williams’ friend, Kristopher, is also suing Louis Vuitton, claiming that a manager denied him a jacket that a non-Black customer wasn’t interested in after it was shown to him. Kristopher stated that he told the staff that he wanted to purchase the jacket for Williams, but the employees claimed it was not available and didn’t provide an explanation.
The three plaintiffs are suing Louis Vuitton for race discrimination under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, business discrimination, tortious breach of contract, and theft. They are also hoping to plead their cases before a jury.
