A mother of three in the United Kingdom says she was prevented from entering a Tesco supermarket after a security guard told her that the design of her backless top posed a concern because someone could untie it, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Alixe Galatis, 31, said the incident occurred on June 26 at a Tesco store in Essex, southeast England, during a period of unusually high temperatures across the country.
According to Galatis, temperatures reached approximately 99 degrees Fahrenheit that day as a heat wave affected much of the UK.
Woman made responsible for potential behavior of others. #Sexism [2]
“UK mom thrown out of supermarket over what she wore during heat wave: ‘Someone can untie your top’”https://t.co/QVnqs3OUVY [3]
— Dr. Rita Haley 🎗️ (@rmhaley8) July 8, 2026 [4]
Galatis said she had just finished the school run and entered the store with her three children when a security guard approached her before she began shopping.
“It was just after the school run, I think it peaked around 36, 37 [degrees Celsius] or something crazy,” she said.
“The kids were picking up the [scan gun], and then the security was standing behind us. When I turned around, he said, ‘You’re not allowed in here.’”
According to Galatis, she asked the guard why she was not permitted to enter.
“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.’”
She said she was surprised by the explanation.
“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.”
Galatis said the security guard then explained his concern.
“Someone can untie your top.”
She said she had never considered that possibility.
“Again, I looked at him, so confused because that’s something that I’ve never even thought of,” she said.
Galatis said she then asked whether she could enter the store to purchase another shirt.
“I said, ‘OK, 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.’”
According to Galatis, she returned to her vehicle, where the only additional clothing she had available was a gym sweatshirt.
“The only thing I had in my car was my gym jumper,” she said. “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.”
After covering her back, Galatis said she re-entered the supermarket and completed her shopping.
“We did our shop, I had the jumper around me, and then on the way out he was watching me walk out,” she said. “He was looking at me with such disdain and just shaking his head at me.”
She questioned why she had been prevented from entering the store.
“I was just completely shocked. Why should I not be allowed in the shop? If someone ever, God forbid, tried to undress me, why would that be my fault?”
Following the incident, Galatis filed a complaint with Tesco and said she does not intend to shop at the store again.
“Sometimes I pop in wearing gym gear, and no one’s ever stopped me,” she said. “It was just so bizarre that it was this top and that he said, ‘Someone can untie it and leave you exposed.’”
She added:
“Should you not be more worried about those who are untying people’s clothing rather than stopping the person who is dressed?”
Tesco later issued a statement apologizing for the incident.
“We are really sorry to hear about this experience. We want everyone to feel welcome in our stores, and this should not have happened.”
The encounter occurred during a period of extreme heat across much of Europe in late June. High temperatures affected multiple countries, and reports indicated that thousands of excess deaths were linked to the heat wave.
The unusually warm weather also led to increased demand for cooling equipment in France, where some shoppers reportedly competed for the remaining air conditioners and fans available in stores.