JAY Z: Won't Bail on Barneys

If you thought Jay Z was going to cave in to the mounting pressure to distance himself from Barneys, think again. Instead, Jay came out swinging against his critics, saying he was being unfairly "demonized" for planning a holiday clothing line with the high-end Manhattan fashion retailer, which has been accused of racially profiling African-American shoppers.
"I move and speak based on facts and not emotion," Jay said in a statement posted on Life and Times over the weekend, adding, "The negligent, erroneous reports and attacks on my character, intentions and the spirit of this collaboration have forced me into a statement I didn't want to make without the full facts."
Jay went on to make it clear that despite reports to the contrary, he doesn't stand to make "a dime" off his line with Barneys and that instead his Shawn Carter Foundation, which provides college scholarships to economically challenged students, will get 25 percent of all sales from the collaboration.
"This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning," he said. "My idea was born out of creativity and charity... not profit."
Jay went on to say that while he understands emotions are high, he's waiting for more information to come out before he makes a move. "I am against discrimination of any kind but if I make snap judgments, no matter who it's towards, aren't I committing the same sin as someone who profiles?," he asked. "I am no stranger to being profiled and I truly empathize with anyone that has been put in that position. Hopefully this brings forth a dialogue to effect real change."