Zendaya Blasts Store for Refusing Service Due to Her 'Skin Tone,' Grocery Chain Responds

Zendaya Blasts Store for Refusing Service Due to Her 'Skin Tone,' Grocery Chain Responds

  

Zendaya arrives at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at the T-Mobile 

Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 22, 2016.

 

After Zendaya alleged that a Vons grocery store clerk refused to sell her $400 worth of gift cards because of her "skin tone," the chain is apologizing for what it's calling a "misunderstanding."

On Tuesday, the 20-year-old singer and actress posted a Snapchat video with her friend saying that she had tried to buy $400 in gift cards but the clerk refused the transaction, saying she Zendaya couldn't afford the purchase and tossing her wallet back at her. Zendaya was ultimately able to purchase some gift cards, but not without incident.

"The lady that was helping us... I don't think she was a huge fan of our skin tone," Zendaya said in the Snapchat video.

"This is what we deal with..." Zendaya continued.

Her male friend added, "Because we're black."

"'You can't afford this,' is how she looked at me," Zendaya stated in the video. "It was $400! Long story short, there's so much progress to be done in our world."
 
On Wednesday (Sept. 8), a rep from Vons addressed the incident in a statement to People, saying the chain apologizes "for any inconvenience or misunderstanding."

"At Vons, we strive to treat each and every customer with the utmost respect," the statement reads. "There is a policy that limits gift card purchases using a credit card. Zendaya was able to purchase gift cards up to our limit, and we apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding.

"We respect Zendaya's voice in the community and similarly are committed to diversity and inclusion. Moreover, we understand that race is a sensitive issue in America and view this experience as a reminder that every interaction is an opportunity to treat each customer as we ourselves would like to be treated."