Comedian Zarna Garg has publicly criticized the luxury brand Hermès after she became trapped in a bathroom at its Berlin store for over an hour. Garg, who has a significant following across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, documented the incident in a video posted online.
The comedian described the bathroom door as a sliding wooden panel that became stuck, preventing her from exiting. Store employees attempted to open the door, with one reportedly scolding Garg for closing it fully. When these efforts failed, Garg's family, who was accompanying her, suggested calling the fire department.
After approximately an hour and 20 minutes, the fire department successfully freed Garg from the restroom. In a social media post, Garg stated that she received no apology or explanation from the store staff. She recounted that employees offered her a bottle of champagne as a resolution, which she declined, stating, "After an hour of being locked, I don't need a bottle of champagne."
Garg also contested a claim made by a store employee to her daughter that the door was known to be broken. "Nobody told us that," Garg stated, questioning why they would choose to enter a malfunctioning restroom if they were aware of the issue.
Initially, Garg attempted to make light of the situation, filming herself inside the bathroom and creating crafts from paper towels. However, as time passed and progress was not made in opening the door, she and her family grew concerned. Garg reported that the store was hesitant to call the fire department, citing a need to "protect the door."
She detailed instances where staff asked her to push on the door, then yelled at her to move back as they attempted to unjam it with a crowbar, which raised further alarm. "Alarms went off and I was scared that they had some equipment to blow the door open and possibly injure me," Garg wrote.
Following her release, Garg stated that no one from the store made eye contact or offered an apology. She described being handed a bottle of champagne as she left, an offer she refused.
Garg further discussed the experience on her podcast, "The Zarna Garg Family podcast." Her daughter reportedly called the incident the "worst treatment" she had ever encountered. The family also noted that if the door was indeed broken and dangerous, a warning sign should have been posted.