Mom Of Three Says Tesco Stopped Her Over Backless Top During Uk Heat Wave

Alixe Galatis, a 31-year-old mom of three, said she was stopped from shopping at a Tesco store in Essex, southeast England, while with her children on June 26.

The visit came during a UK heat wave, with temperatures reaching 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Galatis said she had dressed for the weather in a backless top with thin straps that tied at the back.

Kennedy News reported that the mom was told she could not enter the store because of that top, leaving her confused while trying to do a normal grocery shop with her kids.

Mom of three Alixe Galatis was stopped from entering a UK supermarket over her backless top during a heat wave. Kennedy News and Media

"It was just after the school run, I think it peaked around 36, 37 [degrees Celsius] or something crazy," Galatis said, explaining that the weather was already uncomfortable when she arrived after the school run.

"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.'"

"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."

Galatis said the security guard then gave her a reason that left her even more baffled. According to her, he told her: "Someone can untie your top,"

She said the comment appeared to suggest that someone else could pull the tie loose and leave her exposed, which was not something she had considered when choosing the outfit.

Galatis, 31, claimed a security guard told her someone could untie her top and leave her exposed. Kennedy News and Media

"Again, I looked at him so confused because that's something that I've never even thought of," she said.

"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.'"

Galatis said she then returned to her car and looked for something else to cover herself with. The only option she had was a gym sweatshirt, so she used it to cover her shoulders and back despite the heavy heat outside.

Galatis said she grabbed a gym sweatshirt from her car and covered her back before returning to finish shopping. Instagram / Alixe Galatis

"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."

"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."

"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?"

Supermarket Tesco apologized after Galatis filed a complaint over the incident. William – stock.adobe.com

Galatis later made a complaint to Tesco and said the experience has put her off shopping there 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.'"

"Should you not be more worried about those who are untying people's clothing rather than stopping the person who is dressed?"

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."

The incident happened as Europe was dealing with severe late-June heat. Reuters reported that Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record in 2026, with thousands of excess deaths reported across several countries.

The heat also caused pressure beyond the UK. In France, shoppers were reported to have clashed over air conditioners and fans as people tried to find ways to cool their homes.

Galatis' complaint centered on the idea that she was being held responsible for what someone else might do to her clothing.

She said the top had never caused a problem during other visits, including times when she had gone into the store wearing gym gear.

For Tesco, the apology made clear that the store did not view the incident as something that should have happened.