After spending nearly $300 at TJ Maxx, two women returned their items and vowed never to shop at the store again when a plainclothes police officer accused them of shoplifting without any evidence.
The women were wrongly accused
In a series of TikTok videos that now have millions of views, two women were stopped from leaving a TJ Maxx by a plainclothes cop who accused them of shoplifting.
“He gonna stop us outside and say somebody called on us that we were suspicious,” one of the women said, as reported by The Daily Dot. “So I came back in with my receipts and everything on it that I bought my sh*t. Why would I steal from T.J. Maxx?”
Inside the store, a cashier checked to see that all the items were on receipts, and determined that, yes, they all were.
“I walked out of a store after paying my money I worked hard for, and you stopped me,” one woman says in the video, adding that they spent nearly $300 at the store.
Defending his story, the white copy said a Black employee from the store had tipped him off, but couldn't identify who that was. He then tried to question why they have multiple receipts, but another man ridiculed this assertion, saying that it is perfectly legal, and understandable, to have multiple receipts for multiple purchases in one bag.
“You know what? Return it all,” one woman says. “We don’t want sh*t.”
Shopping while Black
As the women were vindicated by the cashier, the cop said “if there’s no problem then there’s no problem."
But for the women, this was not a ridiculous thing to say. They explained how embarrassing it is to be publically accused of shoplifting, and said that they were stopped because they're Black.
According to a study out of New York called "Shopping while Black," their feelings are shared as 80% of Black people surveyed said they've experienced racial stigmas and stereotypes while shopping.
“We Black. We suspicious,” one of the women says in the video while leaving the store.
Against company protocol
In a third and final video, one woman vows never to shop at TJ Maxx again.
“Gillette got no Black people going to jail today that got my last name on it,” she said. “Racial profiling—this is what this is, and we returned every f*cking thing. They’ll never see me again.”
In the comments, TikTok users called out how wrong the cop was for stopping them after they left the store and said they should considering suing the company.
"Y'all have every right to be angry. That is humiliating especially when you work hard for your money. Hope y'all get compensated somehow," said one comment.
A spokesperson for TJ Maxx told The Daily Dot they "are extremely disappointed and saddened that this occurred in our store."
“We can confirm that the plainclothes detective and police officers seen on this video do not work for our company, and that the Associates working in our store did not initiate these actions. Involvement from our Associates was at the direct request of law enforcement,” they said.
Stop racial profiling
The cop's thinking is clear here. As long as the women are proven innocent, then accusing them of shoplifting is no big deal, right?
Wrong.
Being accused of shoplifting is embarrassing, as is being pulled over for no good reason other than looking a certain way.
This deep-seated racism needs to be reflected on and addressed because it is not acceptable to treat people this way.
Props to those women for taking this video in the moment and helping to expose the ugly face of racial profiling.
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Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.