Sleepwear retailer Peter Alexander has issued an apology following allegations of racial profiling made by an Indigenous man. Julius Widders claimed that he, his wife, and several young family friends were approached by a security guard while attempting to pay for their purchases at an unnamed store last weekend.
Widders stated on social media that a staff member returned with a security guard, creating an atmosphere as if they were there to steal. "Once they noticed we were simply there to pay, the girls said, 'they're all good now'," he wrote. Following the transaction, Widders confronted the security guard about the incident.
He expressed his disappointment, noting that the brand profits from Indigenous designs on its pyjamas. "This is a brand that makes money out of Indigenous designs on their pyjamas," Widders wrote. He described the experience as embarrassing for his wife and highlighted his own resignation to such profiling, stating, "I'm used to it."
Peter Alexander confirmed it has been in contact with Widders' wife, Rose, and is investigating the alleged incident. A company spokesperson stated, "We are disappointed to hear that she and her husband didn't feel welcome in our store. We're committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. We take the concerns raised seriously and we're investigating this situation to understand what happened on the day, including speaking with our store team and centre security."
The company added, "We recognise the significant impact this experience has had on her, her husband and those who were with them, and we sincerely apologise for this. We will continue to work with Rose as we investigate."
Peter Alexander, founded in the 1980s, operates over 130 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The company recently separated from the Just Group during an internal corporate restructure.