Mum kicked out of Tesco for carrying ‘exposing’ prime in heatwave

In the incident, Alixe Galatis visited an Essex branch of Tesco on June 26 with her kids to do a food shop when temperatures hit a record-breaking 37 degrees

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A mum claims she was ejected from Tesco by a security guard who feared her top might be untied by a creep in store. Alixe Galatis visited an Essex branch of Tesco on June 26 with her children for a food shop when temperatures soared to a record-breaking 37C.

Given the sweltering heat, the mother-of-three opted for a black v-neck top that tied at the back. However, as she headed towards the “Scan as You Shop” section, she claims a male security guard confronted her.

Alixe says he informed her she couldn’t enter the store as her backless top could be “untied” by other shoppers and leave her “exposed”.

The 31-year-old fetched a gym sweater from her car and draped it over her back and shoulders, concealing the contentious tie, and was then allowed inside to finish her shopping.

Stay-at-home mum Alixe alleges that as she exited the store, the security guard shook his head in “disdain” at her outfit.

Tesco expressed their regret about the incident, stating they were “really sorry” to hear about this experience and that “this should not have happened”, saying they’d contact Alixe directly regarding the matter.

Alixe, hailing from Essex, shared: “It was just after the school run, I think it peaked around 36, 37 [degrees] or something crazy.

“The clothes I was wearing I had been in all day, I’d been in other shops and there wasn’t an issue until I walked into Tesco, I was with my kids as well.

“The kids were picking up the scanner and then the security was standing behind us and when I turned around he said ‘you’re not allowed in here’.

“I said ‘why not?’. He said ‘you can’t come in here wearing that top because it’s got a tie-up at the back’. I was just really confused and the kids were a bit stunned.

“I don’t know why but he wouldn’t give me any eye contact and I think because I wasn’t moving he carried on and said ‘someone can untie your top’, so basically just leave me exposed.

“Again, I looked at him so confused because that’s something that I’ve never even thought of. I said ‘okay so can I go and buy a top then because I just want to get the shopping done?’ and he said ‘no you’re not allowed in at all’.

“It was just so bizarre. The only thing I had in my car was my gym jumper. It was so hot and I was thinking ‘I can’t physically put this on, so I put it over my shoulders so it was covering my shoulders and my back.

“We did our shop, I had the jumper around me, and then on the way out he was watching me walk out. He was looking at me with such disdain and just shaking his head at me.”

Following her departure from the shop and filing a formal complaint, Alixe expressed worry about what message the incident conveys to other women, especially her young daughters.

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.”

Alixe reveals her eldest daughter, who is nine, has become anxious about what her mum wears when nipping to the shops.

Alixe expressed: “I was just completely shocked. Why should I not be allowed in the shop? If someone ever, God forbid, tried to undress me in Tesco why would that be my fault?”.

“It was very ‘victim blaming’ mentality, it was just crazy. It’s definitely not a policy, I was not exposed, I was not wearing a bikini bra. My eldest, is now more conscious around what I’m wearing when I’m going into the shops.

“She now thinks that that top is not appropriate to be worn in Tesco because of what this man was saying. They’re at a young age where they are very impressionable.

“Sometimes I pop into Tesco wearing gym gear and no one’s ever stopped me. It was just so bizarre that it was this top and that he said ‘someone can untie it and leave you exposed’.

“Should you not be more worried about those who are untying people’s clothing rather than stopping the person who is dressed?”.

Following the incident, which she shared online to an overwhelmingly supportive response, Alixe says she’ll be giving Tesco a wide berth during the next heatwave.

Alixe stated: “The vast majority agree that the top was absolutely fine and that they should be focusing on the people that assault me rather than the clothes I am wearing.

“I will definitely be avoiding Tesco if it comes to another heatwave because I have quite a few tops or dresses that are a halter neck style, so your back is out.

“I honestly don’t believe my daughter would like me going to Tesco wearing something like that again because of what happened.”

The video Alixe shared went viral, racking up more than 53,000 likes and comments.

One penned: “Escalate this, it’s not acceptable.”

Another remarked: “I am flabbergasted. I honestly think the world is going mad.”

One suggested: “Should write a complaint of discrimination and harassment while shopping that you felt uncomfortable and vulnerable.”