Savannah James, the wife of basketball legend LeBron James, has shared a surprising experience where she was denied entry at a Hermès store in Italy, despite having a scheduled appointment.
The 39-year-old businesswoman, who tied the knot with the NBA superstar in 2013, encountered this situation with her friend and business partner, April McDaniel. They recounted that the incident reportedly led to the firing of a saleswoman from the luxury fashion retailer.
Their account of the event came to light during an appearance on Danielle Robay’s Question Everything podcast earlier this week. McDaniel, while sharing stories of their shopping adventures across various destinations, highlighted this particular blunder at Hermès.
“We be hustling,” McDaniel recounted, describing how they were met with disrespect during their visit to the Italian boutique, where staff allegedly treated them poorly.
Following their complaints to the company’s upper management, McDaniel revealed, “They closed down that whole motherf*****g store,” underscoring the gravity of their grievance and the resulting action taken by Hermès.
‘They did,’ Savannah corroborated before McDaniel added that the fashion house ‘fired the lady,’ after she told the woman, ‘We’ll be back for you. I’ll be right back.’
LeBron James’ wife Savannah James has revealed she was turned away at a Hermès store in Italy, despite having an appointment
The 39-year-old entrepreneur has been married to the NBA star since 2013; pictured in May 2025
‘We had an appointment,’ Savannah cut in, adding, ‘And they tried to act like it was…’
A visibly worked up McDaniel then interjected, ‘I said, baby, you caught the wrong one today.’
She noted that her friend was ‘very nice,’ but she was not as patient with the staff regarding the slight, and her frustration led to a full-on shopping spree.
‘We’ll be back here. The whole store is closing down. We’re bringing out [crocodile leather] and everything,’ she said she demanded.
She joked, ‘You want some smoke? You done caught one. I am crazy like that.’
Later, McDaniel shared, ‘We [were] in the private room with champagne and macarons.’
‘They brought out everything,’ Savannah confirmed about the wild occurrence.
‘I said I’ll take bathing suits, I’m buying silverware,’ McDaniel trailed on. ‘I was living my best life.’
The 39-year-old entrepreneur was with her friend and business partner April McDaniel during the alleged incident, which they said resulted in a saleswoman being fired; An Hermes store in Amsterdam in March 2023
L-R LeBron, Bryce James, Savannah, Zhuri James, Gloria Marie James, and Bronny James pictured in 2023
Savannah’s podcast appearance comes weeks after her husband announced he has signed an $8 million, two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The sports icon, 41, previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight seasons.
In a lengthy statement on X, he said he strongly considered retiring but believes he still has ‘more to give.’
Savannah and LeBron share sons Bronny, 21, Bryce, 19, and daughter Zhuri, 11.
Asked by Robay what advice the mom of three would give other wives and girlfriends of athletes, she answered: ‘Pay attention to yourself as much as you’re paying attention to your partner.’
She added, ‘Don’t lose yourself in the babies, if they come. Don’t lose yourself in the facade of what all of this looks like. Try to stay grounded, try to stay authentic to who you are, and what this connection was from the very beginning.’