Fabulous

Tiktok Star Wins €20K Over Zara Dressing Room Violation

Published 4 weeks ago on Feb 15, 2025

TikTok Star Wins €20,000 After Zara Staff Pulled Back Curtain in Changing Room.

A 20-year-old TikTok influencer and fashion enthusiast has been awarded €20,000 in compensation after an unsettling incident at a Zara store in Dublin, where security staff allegedly pulled back a changing room curtain while she was trying on clothes. The court ruled in her favor, citing defamation and wrongful treatment.

Incident at Zara’s Blanchardstown Store

Krystal Joyce, a popular Irish TikTok star known for trying on and reviewing fashion items, found herself at the center of a legal battle after an encounter at Ireland’s largest Zara store, located in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

Joyce, who has amassed over 122,000 followers on TikTok, frequently shares videos of herself trying on outfits in retail store changing rooms to recommend clothing to her audience. However, what was meant to be another routine shopping trip turned into a distressing ordeal when a female security guard allegedly opened the curtain to her changing cubicle while she was partially dressed.

Accusations and Legal Battle

The situation escalated when Joyce claimed she was prevented from leaving the changing area and subsequently interrogated in front of other shoppers. According to her legal team, security staff and store employees implied she was engaged in criminal activity, an accusation she firmly denied.

During the Dublin Circuit Civil Court hearing, Joyce’s barrister, Esther Earley, argued that her client had suffered severe embarrassment and emotional distress due to the incident. She further claimed that Zara’s security personnel falsely accused Joyce of wrongdoing in a public setting, damaging her reputation.

Joyce also reported hearing a security worker repeatedly say, “I am calling the guards,” within earshot of other customers. The social media influencer insisted that she had done nothing wrong and that her integrity had been unjustly questioned.

Court Ruling and Compensation

Judge Roderick Maguire ruled in favor of Joyce, finding her to be a credible and truthful witness. He emphasized that the treatment she endured was inappropriate, particularly the public nature of the accusations and the distress caused by having her changing room privacy violated.

“The plaintiff has given honest and forthright evidence,” stated Judge Maguire. “Ms. Joyce was particularly upset because she has a social media presence through which she does her best to raise awareness for the Travelling community, of which she is a member.”

The judge criticized Zara’s defense, stating that the evidence presented by the store’s witness contained “glaring inconsistencies.” He also rejected a purported note from Zara regarding the incident, suggesting it may have been altered or falsified.

As a result, Joyce was awarded a total of €20,000 in damages:

Additionally, the court ordered both defendants to cover Joyce’s legal costs, although the exact amount remains undisclosed.

Public Reaction and Aftermath

The case has sparked widespread discussion, particularly among Joyce’s TikTok followers and advocates for consumer rights. Many have voiced concerns over retail security practices and the importance of protecting customer privacy.

Joyce, represented by Aisling Woods of Michael Kelleher Solicitors, has yet to publicly comment on her victory. Meanwhile, Zara and Bidvest Noonan, which describes itself as “a market leader in security services” with 20,000 employees across the UK and Ireland, have not issued an official response regarding the ruling.

Implications for Retailers

This case raises important questions about how retail staff and security personnel handle potential theft suspicions. Industry experts highlight the necessity for stores to implement clear policies that respect customer rights and ensure proper training for security teams to avoid similar incidents.

Legal professionals note that businesses can face severe consequences if they wrongly accuse customers or handle security situations inappropriately. Defamation cases such as this can not only lead to financial losses but also damage a brand’s reputation.

Krystal Joyce’s legal victory serves as a cautionary tale for retail establishments regarding how they treat customers and the potential legal repercussions of improper security practices. The case also underscores the power of social media influencers in advocating for their rights and bringing public attention to such incidents.

As Joyce’s case continues to gain traction online, it remains to be seen whether Zara or Bidvest Noonan will take further steps to address the situation. In the meantime, the ruling stands as a precedent for privacy rights in retail settings, reinforcing the importance of ethical and legal conduct in the industry.

€10,000 from Bidvest Noonan (ROI) Limited, the security company responsible for the guards at the store.

€10,000 from ITX Retail Limited, the operator of Zara in Ireland.

TikTok

Comments

Written news comments are in no way https://www.showbizglow.com it does not reflect the opinions and thoughts of. Comments are binding on the person who wrote them.