‘Buy a shirt or leave’: Mother-of-five claims a security guard booted her out of a shopping centre because she was wearing a bikini
- Gemma-Elaine Duggan lost her shirt while at the beach, 63km away from home
- The mother-of-five went to a mall to replace it but says she was told to leave
- She claims a security guard said her bikini was inappropriate and violated rules
- The guard said while it wasn’t the conditions of entry sign it was the owner’s rule
A mother has claimed that she was kicked out of a shopping centre for wearing a bikini top while trying to replace her shirt that was lost at the beach.
New Zealand woman Gemma-Elaine Duggan was enjoying a family day by the beach at Tauranga when she misplaced her singlet.
Almost an hour’s drive away from her home in Rotorua, the mother-of-five decided to go to the nearby Bayfair Mall to purchase a new outfit.
Gemma-Elaine Duggan claims she was kicked out of Bayfair mall in Tauranga because she was wearing a bikini (pictured) while trying to replace her lost shirt
But moments after entering, Ms Duggan claims she was approached by a security guard and told to leave.
The security guard reportedly claimed her bikini top violated the shopping centre’s rules.
‘I was mortified. I was so upset I just left. He created a scene in front of everyone by shouting across the mall, “Excuse me. Excuse me. Buy a shirt or leave”,’ she told the NZ Herald.
Ms Duggan, who was still wearing shorts, said she explained to the security guard why she was there and that the family were not from the area and could not go home to get a shirt.
But when she refused his request to get one from the nearest shop, instead wanting to pick the retailer herself, she said the guard told her to leave.
The conditions of entry sign (pictured) does not ban swimwear
The shopping centre’s entry conditions, listed on a sign out front, state there is to be ‘no smoking or vaping, riding, bikes, alcohol, loitering and gang regalia’- but does not ban swimwear.
Embarrassed and close to tears, the mother rushed back to her car while her husband went to speak to the security guard.
When her husband pointed out to the security guard that his wife’s violation was not listed on the sign, the guard reportedly said it was ‘the owner’s rule’.
Ms Duggan said she was worried it could happen to other woman and that it felt as though she was being discriminated against because of her appearance.
‘I’m embarrassed. If they’re going to treat me that way they could very well do it to other women.
‘I feel like they looked at my appearance and made a judgement that I was trouble and they didn’t want me there so they decided the easiest way to get me out is to say I can’t wear a bikini top.’
The incident has divided opinion among social media users, after the story was shared online.
Some believed the shopping centre was within its rights to enforce its own rules and shoppers should abide them.
The security guard said while swimwear was not listed on Bayfair mall’s conditions of entry, it had been instated by the owner
‘All private shops malls cinemas can have a dress code . Don’t like it don’t go,’ one person wrote.
Another added: ‘It’s a bikini it belongs at the beach!’
Others felt it was too extreme.
‘Wow that’s just over the top. Excuse pun. But really? Beating the heat in a beach town is normal,’ someone said.
‘I totally saw someone with cheeky shorts yesterday almost gbangers and didn’t get booted, leave her alone,’ one comment read.
Daily Mail Australia has commented Tauranga Bayfair Mall for comment.