Nacer Bouhanni has taken to Facebook to express his annoyance at being refused service at a jewellers in Nancy recently when he tried to buy an expensive watch.
In a scene reminiscent of 1990 film Pretty Woman, the French sprinter tried to buy the watch last Saturday but was denied access to the shop by the saleswoman. When he entered the lobby of the shop, he was initially asked to remove his cap, which he did.
“Once in the hallway, I wanted to see if there were other watches inside. A saleswoman replied curtly that they were all on display. Okay, so I came outside,” Bouhanni explained.
Once outside, Bouhanni spotted a watch in the window that he liked but was unable to gain entrance to make the purchase.
“So I asked to get back in and ask for information. I really wanted to buy it. But they would not open to me. Neither the salesperson nor the person at her side who was the boss (would open). No problem. Before leaving, I advised them to learn who I was. Now, I find it outrageous, that’s why I shared this story on my Facebook account,” he said.
The jeweller has a somewhat different version of events but confirmed that they did indeed ask him to remove his cap.
“If he was asked to remove the cap before entering, it is because we have been robbed there in the past two months. Our insurance company makes us take this precaution. We therefore ask all our customers with a hat or cap, to remove it,” Miss Valer who works in the jewellers told Le Figaro.
Miss Valer then went on to explain that Bouhanni shouted from outside and banged on the door at which point they refused to let him in.
She then said that Bouhanni shouted “You do not know who I am! I’m the millionaire of Nancy.”
The jewellers have since apologised to Bouhanni who has responded to say that he wouldn’t be taking the matter any further. “It is not a question of discrimination or racism but simply a misunderstanding,” he said.
There is a lot to not like about this guy…just saying. So full of his own self importance!