Boots could axe hairdresser in racism row

12 April 2012

The celebrity hairdresser engulfed in a racism row was today in talks over his lucrative contract with Boots.

James Brown, who repeatedly called stage-school founder Ben Douglas a "n*****r" and his female companion a "n*****r bitch" at the Bafta awards ceremony, could be dropped by the high street chemist which stocks a range of his products.

Executives were in discussions over the future of their association with the 41-year-old, who counts Kate Moss and Lily Allen as friends, and has recently hosted a TV programme on E4.

A Boots spokeswoman said the company had not yet received any customer complaints, but admitted the matter would be taken seriously.

She said: "At this stage we don't know what will happen but decisions will be made in meetings." A source close to the hairdresser said: "He has apologised and that should be the end of the matter. They have enough confidence in him to move forward." But today Mr Douglas revealed that although he had received a personal apology by telephone, Brown - who blamed alcohol for the outburst - had not apologised to his friend.

He said: "His focus has been me and my feelings but he should apologise to her as well. We were so stunned that neither of us could really speak. It was so aggressive, he was screaming in my face.

"She is a magazine executive for a top glossy. She has a first from university. It was not just offensive to me. It was completely belittling to her." Mr Douglas added: "You can't hold grudges. If I truly believed he was going home putting on a white robe and burning crosses I might think differently. I hope he was just trying to be cool and trendy. Clearly he has a drinking problem."

Brown told the Times after the telephone call: "I'm so, so devastated about it and I don't think I deserve it. I'm embarrassed. My nephew is mixed race. I apologised. Ben has accepted that. We have had a great chat."

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