19-Year-Old Films Walmart Employee Fat-Shaming Her: "Don't Stretch It"
Shiann Friesen, the 19-year-old Canadian vlogger behind ShiCurves, was told by a Walmart employee not to try on clothing because she'd stretch it out. She caught the Jan. 26 exchange on camera and it's since been viewed more than 140,000 times.
After Friesen approached the employee and asked if she could try on several items of clothing, she was told, "Just … don't try to push it." The woman took the clothes away from her and continued: "Just don't try to put on something that's obviously not going to fit." She then notices Friesen is filming and backpedals.
Friesen explained in the video how hurt she felt and how the employee continued to be combative, explaining she was only enforcing the store's policies. According to PEOPLE, Walmart Canada has reached out to Friesen and has also confirmed it is not the store's policy to police what customers want to try on.
"One of our core beliefs is respect for the individual, that's certainly paramount," senior director of corporate affairs Alex Roberton said. Friesen said everyone she's spoken to at Walmart since has been shocked by her story.
"I don't want this to turn into a giant spiel," Friesen concluded her video, "but I just want you guys to know nobody has the right to discriminate against you and if that happens you need to be vocal about it and stand up for yourself." Yes. That. 🙌
Update 2/5, 9:18 a.m.: Alex Roberton, senior director of corporate affairs of Walmart Canada, confirmed the incident to Cosmopolitan.com in an email, saying management at the store where it happened has "discussed the matter" with the employee. Roberton added that Walmart is reaching out to Friesen and that "we are very sorry to hear of our customer's experience - we never want a customer to feel mistreated in any way."
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