North Carolina woman says she went to Aerie to try on bathing suits after having a baby. Then she overheard what the worker said about her: ‘Trying not to cry’

A TikTok creator took to the app to express how a trip to the retail store can sometimes deal an unforgettable blow to your confidence. North Carolina SAHM (stay-at-home mom) influencer Macy Ann used her platform to call out the staff at her local Aerie, who she says spoke to her in a judgmental tone for bringing a substantial clothing haul into the fitting room.

Ann explained where her headspace was when she walked into Aerie, saying, “I feel like I’m a bother everywhere that I go. I overly apologize. I’m a people pleaser. Like, I try my hardest not to bother people.” She continued, “So, with that being said, I’m having a hard time with swimsuit season this year. I just had a kid 19 months ago and so it’s been really, really hard for me.”

Staff was growing impatient

She then explained that she took a lot of swimsuits because after having her baby, her body has been changing drastically — and she doesn’t exactly know what size looks complimentary on her anymore. She said the last thing she needed during such a vulnerable time was someone making mean commentary while she was simply trying to find something that gave her the confidence to enjoy the summer.

However, while she was trying to figure out which swimsuits she felt most comfortable in, a staff member at Aerie was allegedly growing impatient. Ann said the employee she interacted with was not a very “friendly person.”

The contention between the two appears to have stemmed from who was supposed to return the clothes she had picked out to the correct rack. Ann explained that she returned most of the clothes that didn’t fit the way she wanted—not all of them. She then added, “So I pick up this bralette and I go back there. I’m like, I’m going to try this on. Great. So excited. Love this bathing suit. Great day. It’s a great day. Um, let me try on this bralette.” She continued, “I get back there. Tell me why I get back there to her mid-sentence talking shit about how much stuff that I had dragged.”

From the video, you could tell Ann was shaken by the interaction. She said she was “trying not to cry” by the time she got to the register. Recording from her car in the immediate aftermath, she said she hoped the staff member “gets the day she deserves.”

She got vindicated

While the comment section was mixed, one response stood out because it came from someone who said they also work at Aerie. They wrote, “As an aerie employee we are trained to never ever talk about guests even when they aren’t in the store anymore, we also never count how many items u have so u shouldn’t have to feel like ur bringing in to many items, im so sorry you had a bad experience! not all of us are bad!”

In situations like these, it’s impossible to know exactly how the interaction unfolded because TikTok almost always offers only one perspective. Still, seeing someone who identified themselves as an Aerie employee publicly sympathize with Ann likely gave her at least some sense that her feelings weren’t entirely misplaced.