Taila Batiste was running a grocery store when members of the staff claimed they began to shame her because of her outfit.
The 26-year-old New South Wales woman is said to have allegedly claimed that the staff was inappropriate for wearing grocery shopping, consisting of oversized sweaters and pink gym shorts.
“I was running a fruit and vegetable shop on the phone and this woman tweeted something and passed me,” she said.
The 26-year-old thinks that the tweets aren't about her and doesn't pay much attention to the woman, but she insists that the woman will come to her and stand up to her clothes.
She said the woman, “I can't believe you're wearing it. You're wearing your underwear.
I contacted the chain for comments.
Baptiste says that things got so hot that the woman told her to “get her own grip,” and the experience rocked her.
She was more than asked to tell a manager who claims she was “really apologizing” for the incident.
Baptiste told the manager that while she had “thick skin,” no one else said.
She also pointed out that wearing activewear at grocery stores is normal.
Speaking to news.com.au, she said the experience “flattering and rattling” her feelings, and she didn't want the incident to slide.
“I worked as a retail manager for four years and it's annoying if any of my team spoke to customers like that,” she said.
“I'm hoping she's been) so strictly rebuked, she won't do that to the next person.”
Baptiste said he was also surprised by the comments of the women as the grocery store is near the gym and certainly people wear activewear all the time.
“I think people should be more supportive of me being fit, active and confident,” she said.
The 26-year-old said that in her experience she only got “dirty looks and comments” from older women, but she said she was really surprised this time because she wore such plain clothes.
“Think about I was wearing a baggy, oversized jumper. [sweater]gym shorts and sneakers,” she pointed out.
The 26-year-old said she was happy she spoke and the manager was lovely, but the reaction was mixed when she shared her story online.
Someone wrote that she was looking for “caution.” Another claimed she was “Karen,” and someone else said, “Maybe (the staff) were offended, but this woman was walking half naked around the store.”
Others insisted that she should be able to wear “anything,” while others said that wearing activewear in the shop should not be treated like a “crime” and someone else said “thank you for standing up for all of us.”
“The response was positive and negative, 50/50,” she said.
“I was shocked by some of the comments that I actually backed up her.
She said the older people seemed keen to jump on the “hatred bandwagon,” but the younger people were by her side and shared that they were always gym clothes and shopping.
