Versace staff use a code word to alert each other when black shoppers enter, claims African-American sales assistant who was fired

Versace staff use a code word to alert each other when black shoppers enter, claims an African-American sales assistant who was fired.

Chris Sampino, 23, claims his manager told him to raise the alarm when a black person entered the San Francisco store by saying D410 - the code for black shirts.

The manager also told him he could 'hold a black shirt' when using the code 'so that they don't know what you're talking about', according to the lawsuit.

When Mr Sampino said he found this offensive due to his African-American heritage, the manager allegedly treated him differently and later fired him saying he doesn't 'understand luxury' or 'know the luxury life'.

Versace staff use a code word to alert each other when black shoppers enter, claims an African-American sales assistant who was fired

Mr Sampino, who is one quarter African-American, says that after he told his manager about his heritage he did not receive proper training and was fired two weeks later.

He says his manager was taken aback when he told him: 'You know that I'm African-American?'

He says he was told to quit to 'make the paperwork easier' and that he was not given his final paycheck.

He is now suing for unpaid wages and damages, reports TMZ