A mother-of-three has claimed she was asked to leave a Tesco supermarket after a security guard allegedly told her that her backless top could be untied by someone, leaving her exposed.
Alixe Galatis, 31, said the incident happened while she was shopping with her children at a Tesco store in Essex on 26 June, when temperatures soared to 37°C during the UK’s heatwave.
According to Galatis, she was stopped by a security guard as she entered the store and told she was not allowed inside because her halter-neck top was tied at the back.
She said the guard allegedly explained that someone could untie the top, exposing her. Shocked by the comment, Galatis asked whether she could buy another top inside the store but claimed she was told she could not enter at all.
“I was completely confused. It had never crossed my mind that someone would untie my clothing,” she said, adding that her children were equally stunned by the exchange.
Determined to finish her shopping, Galatis returned to her car and put on a jumper despite the extreme heat before re-entering the supermarket.
She claimed the security guard continued watching her throughout her visit and shook his head as she left the store after completing her shopping.
Galatis described the incident as “victim blaming”, arguing that attention should be focused on people who might harass others rather than on what women choose to wear.
“If someone ever tried to undress me, why would that be my fault?” she said, insisting her outfit was not revealing and noting she had worn the same top in other shops without any issues.
Following the incident, Galatis lodged a complaint with Tesco and said she no longer intends to shop at the supermarket. She also shared her experience online, where she said many people supported her and believed there was nothing inappropriate about her clothing.
Responding to the incident, a Tesco spokesperson apologised, saying: “We are really sorry to hear about this experience. We want everyone to feel welcome in our stores and this should not have happened.”
