Woman says her mother was racially profiled at Ontario store. Then she called the owner and he allegedly told her: ‘Sue me’

An elderly woman was accused of theft at a Home Hardware store in Tecumseh, Ontario, after she walked in carrying a box from a plumber, according to her daughter. The daughter, who posts on TikTok as Jennifer, said in her videos that staff racially profiled her mother, an African Canadian woman who mostly speaks French and has limited English.

Jennifer, a third-year medical student, explained the account in a previous TikTok video. She described her mother as a known teacher in the region for over 20 years and said the incident happened at the store on Street L’Espérance. She also posted a Google Maps listing for Tecumseh Home Hardware Building Centre on Lesperance Road.

In the videos, Jennifer said she contacted CTV News and Radio-Canada and submitted a report to Home Hardware’s head office. She claimed that when she called the store owner, his response was “Sue me.” She added that she planned to pursue legal action and would keep talking about the matter until it goes viral.

Jennifer described her mother’s visit to the store and the call with the owner

Jennifer explained that a plumber working at their home told her mother she needed to buy matching items and handed her a box so she would know what to get. Her mother entered the store with that box, looked around but could not find the same product, and tried to leave, she said.

Staff approached her mother and demanded a receipt, Jennifer claimed. Her mother replied that she did not have one because she had brought the box in with her, but the employees would not accept that explanation and repeated the demand. Her mother then asked for a translator, she added. Disputes over accusations inside stores have drawn attention elsewhere too, like when a Florida Walmart customer says staff called him a liar.

Once the translator arrived, staff accused her mother of being a thief and said they needed to check the cameras and keep the box, Jennifer stated. Her mother agreed to leave the box, took a picture of it, and said she would return later. She then went to another store, bought two of the items, and came back, according to Jennifer.

At the front of the store, her mother asked for the plumber’s box back and explained she had purchased the new items elsewhere. Staff refused at first and demanded receipts for the two new boxes, which her mother then showed after they insisted, Jennifer said. The employees told her they would call the plumber to confirm the box belonged to him.

Her mother offered to leave one of the newly purchased boxes in exchange for the plumber’s original box, and the staff agreed, Jennifer recounted. She said her mother planned to return the item to the plumber and come back later. After hearing the story, Jennifer called the store and was transferred to the owner.

The owner confirmed he had been present and told her that anyone who walks in with a box should first tell the front employees they are not stealing, she claimed. Jennifer noted the item cost $17 and said she offered to e-transfer him $40. He replied that he needed to check the cameras. She insisted he do it immediately, and he did. The footage showed her mother walking in with the plumber’s box, Jennifer said. The owner then claimed two of the items were missing from inventory.

When her brother arrived, the staff appeared confused about which box her mother had taken, she stated. The owner then became more polite and said the earlier comments had come from one of the workers, not him. Her mother later told her she felt like she was treated like a dog, Jennifer added. Conflicts involving business owners have also gone viral, such as when a hostess says the owner kicked her out after a customer dispute.

Viewers reacted to the posts with a range of responses. One person claimed the store was removing negative feedback and wrote, “they’re actively deleting 1 star reviews.” A journalist based in Montreal offered to help spread the account and commented, “hi! I am a journalist in Montreal, will pass this story along to some colleagues. good luck!” Another viewer called the situation unacceptable and wrote, “Wow that’s unacceptable. I hope they get fired!!!”

A different commenter expressed support for Jennifer’s decision to speak out and said, “Happy to see you’re not letting it slide!” One more person suggested legal action and a boycott, writing, “Sorry this happened. Certainly sue them. Good time to boycott Home Hardware now.”