Jennifer Lopez was refused entry to a Chanel boutique in Istanbul’s upscale Istinye Park Mall on August 4. Security staff at the store stopped her at the door, citing full capacity as the reason. Reports from Türkiye Today and Billboard confirmed the guard did not recognise the global star. Lopez reportedly responded calmly, “OK, no problem,” before walking away.
Later, store staff realised their mistake and invited her back. She declined the offer and instead shopped at nearby luxury stores such as Celine and Beymen, spending tens of thousands of dollars there.
Photographs from the day show Lopez dressed casually in a baby pink outfit with matching sunglasses, blending into the upscale mall atmosphere despite her superstar status.
A pattern of calm under pressure
This isn’t the first time Lopez has shown composure in the face of unexpected situations. During a recent concert, her skirt slipped down mid-performance. Without missing a beat, she joked to the crowd, “I’m out here in my underwear. That’s gonna be everywhere. I’m glad that they reinforced that costume. And I’m glad I had underwear on. I don’t usually wear underwear.”
Lopez’s ability to handle public hiccups with humour and grace has drawn praise, reinforcing her image as a seasoned performer.
On tour and celebrating in Turkey
Lopez was in Istanbul as part of her ongoing ‘Up All Night: Live in 2025’ tour. She performed at Yenikapi Festival Park on August 5 during the Istanbul Festival. This was her second visit to Turkey on this tour, following a July 23 show at the Regnum Carya Resort Hotel, where she also celebrated her 54th birthday.
Sharing gratitude on Instagram, Lopez wrote, “What a gift you all are! Thank you so much for all your beautiful birthday wishes,” alongside photos from the celebration.
Her tour, which began in Spain, covers multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East, and the US, and will conclude in Sardinia, Italy, on August 12.
Chanel’s reputation and online reactions
The Istanbul Chanel store has faced criticism over the years. It holds a low rating of 2.9 out of 5 on Google, with customers complaining about rude and unwelcoming behaviour, especially from security staff at the entrance.
One reviewer commented, “The difference between the excellent service inside and this poor treatment at the entrance is truly disappointing. This is an unacceptable situation for a brand at this level.” Another said, “The security team was a complete disappointment. Their attitude was rude and unwelcoming, treating customers with suspicion rather than respect, even those clearly there to shop.”
There have been reports of aggressive behaviour and denied entry to paying customers, creating an image of elitism rather than hospitality.
Industry voices weigh in
Reality TV star Bethenny Frankel, known from The Real Housewives of New York City, shared her thoughts after hearing about Lopez’s experience. Frankel recounted a personal incident at a Chanel store, where she was turned away without an appointment despite being a public figure. She told TikTok followers, “I don’t think Chanel should change policies for public people. I think they should change policies about the elitism and the way they treat someone daring to enter their kingdom, making them feel inferior.”
She added, “I have no idea how the person at the door treated Jennifer Lopez, but therein lies the actual issue.”
Frankel speculated that the security guard might simply not have known who Lopez was or the store genuinely was at capacity.
Lopez has not publicly commented on the Chanel incident. She is currently busy with her first tour in six years, which follows the cancellation of her Los Angeles residency last year reportedly due to soft ticket sales.
In addition to touring, Lopez is preparing for the October 10 release of Kiss of the Spider Woman, a musical film directed by Bill Condon. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Lopez stars as Ingrid Luna, alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh Elizarraraz.
The project is based on the musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Frank Ebb, which itself was adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel.
Meanwhile, Lopez is reportedly working on a post-divorce album and searching for a new record label after parting ways with her previous one.
Later, store staff realised their mistake and invited her back. She declined the offer and instead shopped at nearby luxury stores such as Celine and Beymen, spending tens of thousands of dollars there.
Photographs from the day show Lopez dressed casually in a baby pink outfit with matching sunglasses, blending into the upscale mall atmosphere despite her superstar status.
A pattern of calm under pressure
This isn’t the first time Lopez has shown composure in the face of unexpected situations. During a recent concert, her skirt slipped down mid-performance. Without missing a beat, she joked to the crowd, “I’m out here in my underwear. That’s gonna be everywhere. I’m glad that they reinforced that costume. And I’m glad I had underwear on. I don’t usually wear underwear.”
Lopez’s ability to handle public hiccups with humour and grace has drawn praise, reinforcing her image as a seasoned performer.
On tour and celebrating in Turkey
Lopez was in Istanbul as part of her ongoing ‘Up All Night: Live in 2025’ tour. She performed at Yenikapi Festival Park on August 5 during the Istanbul Festival. This was her second visit to Turkey on this tour, following a July 23 show at the Regnum Carya Resort Hotel, where she also celebrated her 54th birthday.
Sharing gratitude on Instagram, Lopez wrote, “What a gift you all are! Thank you so much for all your beautiful birthday wishes,” alongside photos from the celebration.
Her tour, which began in Spain, covers multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East, and the US, and will conclude in Sardinia, Italy, on August 12.
Chanel’s reputation and online reactions
The Istanbul Chanel store has faced criticism over the years. It holds a low rating of 2.9 out of 5 on Google, with customers complaining about rude and unwelcoming behaviour, especially from security staff at the entrance.
One reviewer commented, “The difference between the excellent service inside and this poor treatment at the entrance is truly disappointing. This is an unacceptable situation for a brand at this level.” Another said, “The security team was a complete disappointment. Their attitude was rude and unwelcoming, treating customers with suspicion rather than respect, even those clearly there to shop.”
There have been reports of aggressive behaviour and denied entry to paying customers, creating an image of elitism rather than hospitality.
Industry voices weigh in
Reality TV star Bethenny Frankel, known from The Real Housewives of New York City, shared her thoughts after hearing about Lopez’s experience. Frankel recounted a personal incident at a Chanel store, where she was turned away without an appointment despite being a public figure. She told TikTok followers, “I don’t think Chanel should change policies for public people. I think they should change policies about the elitism and the way they treat someone daring to enter their kingdom, making them feel inferior.”
She added, “I have no idea how the person at the door treated Jennifer Lopez, but therein lies the actual issue.”
Frankel speculated that the security guard might simply not have known who Lopez was or the store genuinely was at capacity.
Lopez has not publicly commented on the Chanel incident. She is currently busy with her first tour in six years, which follows the cancellation of her Los Angeles residency last year reportedly due to soft ticket sales.
In addition to touring, Lopez is preparing for the October 10 release of Kiss of the Spider Woman, a musical film directed by Bill Condon. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Lopez stars as Ingrid Luna, alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh Elizarraraz.
The project is based on the musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Frank Ebb, which itself was adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel.
Meanwhile, Lopez is reportedly working on a post-divorce album and searching for a new record label after parting ways with her previous one.
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