A mother of three claims she was turned away from a Tesco store in Essex by a security guard who said her tie-back top could be untied by other shoppers, leaving her exposed. Alixe Galatis, 31, visited the store on June 26 during a record-breaking 37C heatwave with her children.
Incident at the Store
Galatis, wearing a black v-neck top that fastened at the back, approached the Scan as You Shop section when a male security guard stopped her. He allegedly said she could not enter because her backless top could be untied by other customers. Galatis fetched a gym jumper from her car, placed it over her shoulders to conceal the tie, and was then allowed to shop.
Upon leaving, she claims the guard shook his head with disdain. Tesco apologized, stating the incident should not have happened and that they would contact her directly.
Mother's Reaction
Galatis expressed shock, calling the guard's reasoning bizarre and victim-blaming. She noted she had worn the same top in other shops without issue. Her nine-year-old daughter now worries about what her mother wears to the store. Galatis said, 'If someone ever, God forbid, tried to undress me in Tesco why would that be my fault?'
Public Response
A video of the incident went viral, amassing over 53,000 likes and comments. Many supported Galatis, with one commenter writing, 'Escalate this, it's not acceptable.' Another said, 'I am flabbergasted. I honestly think the world is going mad.'
Tesco's Statement
A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We are really sorry to hear about this experience. We want everyone to feel welcome in our stores and this should not have happened.' Galatis plans to avoid Tesco during future heatwaves, citing concerns about similar clothing policies.
