Store worker refused to let plus-size woman buy a bra. Her 'special people' remark was the final straw

For someone struggling with body image, being told a store does not carry their size can be heartbreaking. Australian actress, producer, and author Ajay Rochester (@ajayrochester) had a similar experience. She recorded herself outside a Bras N Things store after the staff refused to fit her for a sports bra. Instead of showing her the options, the woman insisted they didn't have her size and that she should try David Jones instead, where there were "special people" who could fit her. The video received 1.3 million views, 75,800 likes, and 4,944 comments.

No size 16

Instead of taking the insult quietly, Rochester stood outside the store on July 24, 2024, to complain about the way the staff treated her. Initially, she was excited to come to Australia, specifically because she wanted to get fitted at the shop. She knew they had a wide range of bras and wanted to get a few because she recently lost weight. However, when she walked in, the staff told her, "We don't really have many sports bras." Rochester insisted that she wanted to get fit anyway, because she wanted to buy other types of bras, but the staff continued to say they "don't have many sizes." 

Fatphobic enough to recommend a rival business

Finally, when Rochester asked, "You mean sizes of bras that fit me?" the woman suggested she try David Jones, where they "have special people to fit you... David Jones has more burly sports bras anyway." Right before she left, Rochester told the salesperson she would have bought a bra anyway, even if there were no sports bras, and the lady "ignored her." It did not click for Rochester immediately, and she thought the store was closing, which was why she did not have time to fit her. 20 minutes later, it was still open, and there were no customers inside. She understood that the staff was actually fat-shaming her and told Bras N Things to do better with their hires.

Missing job opportunities because of weight

A 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than half (52%) believed that people with weight problems are fat shamed, while 34% revealed that they knew someone who was directly fat shamed over the past year. 58% believed that the majority of fat shaming is common on social media, while 37% said that it happens in social situations, and 29% believed it influences hiring decisions. Rochester definitely felt fat shamed while she was trying to shop for herself at the Bras N Things store, and called them out for it.

The shop is always empty

People commended Rochester for speaking out about the discrimination she faced in the store. @amileeb wrote, "Yep, it's literally like a 50/50 you either get the sweetest angels at BNT or the worst service." @lauren2309 shared her experience with them, "I had them do a 'fitting' with my jumper still on. Safe to say it wasn’t accurate."

You can follow Ajay Rochester (@ajayrochester) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.

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