Primark is reviewing its unisex changing rooms policy after men walk in on woman
Primark has confirmed it is conducting a review of its unisex changing rooms policy after a woman has complained two men walked in on her.
Earlier this year, the fashion retailer said it would no longer have separate male and female changing rooms at its stores across the UK, and would instead be opting for the introduction of gender-neutral cubicles that allow people of all genders to change alongside one another.
But now, a woman has taken to social media to share her recent experience, and her account has prompted the chain to confirm it will “review our approach to fitting rooms”.
25-year-old Charlotte Kirby uploaded a tearful video to TikTok on Friday saying that two different men pulled back the curtain of the cubicle she was in in separate incidents while she was trying on clothes at the Primark store in Cambridge.
Ms Kirby said she felt she needed “to get the word out” with her video.
“I was just in Primark in Cambridge and I was trying on some clothes and it was a unisex changing room, which I’m all for and I love that because it makes everyone feel included,” Ms Kirby explained in her now-viral video.
“But twice men opened the curtain and walked in on me.
“Luckily, both times I was wearing clothes but I could easily not have been. It was two different people but they were clearly from the same group. There was so many changing rooms available so it’s not like they just were checking if someone was in there or not.
“The first time, the man just walked in and the second time he said before ‘have you tried it on? Can I see?’ and then he did it [opened the curtain]. Both times I was so shocked and I said ‘oh, sorry’ as if it was my fault.
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“I just want to say to everyone to please be careful, and if you are going in a changing room, don’t go in on your own.
“I know I will never be doing that again.”
Ms Kirby said the staff at the Cambridge Primark branch were “amazing” when she told them what had happened, and they even walked her back to her car after afterwards as she did not feel safe.
Primark says customers who are uncomfortable changing in a unisex fitting room can speak to a member of staff at any UK store, who will then direct them to “easy access” changing facilities that have a lockable door.
In a statement addressing Ms Kirkby’s experience, a spokesperson for Primark said: “We are really sorry to hear of this customer’s experience.
“It shouldn’t have happened and we’re urgently investigating.
“We are currently reviewing our approach to fitting rooms in our stores to ensure these are always safe and inclusive spaces for everyone.”
Featured Image – Trafford Palazzo