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Sportsgirl Apologises And Promises To Do Better After Racially Profiling First Nations Woman

Sportsgirl Apologises And Promises To Do Better After Racially Profiling First Nations Woman

Warnindilyakwa woman Emily Wurramara recalled the heartbreaking incident that left her in tears.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Australian retailer Sportsgirl has apologised and promised to do better after it admitted staff had racially profiled a First Nations woman.

Warnindilyakwa woman Emily Wurramara was shopping with her sister in Hobart this week and was perusing the aisles at a Sportsgirl store when she saw out of the corner of her eye that employees were looking at her.

Writing on Instagram, the singer said she realised they were looking at the items in her hands with concern.

"I had picked up two items and had two bags on one arm (I could carry things easily with both hands) then I preceded to walk towards the jewellery and started browsing," she recalled.

"Out the corner of my eye I had seen one of the staff members whispering and telling the other colleague to 'go go go' to wards me.

"The lady asked me if she'd like for me to take these things and put them on the counter. I'm not dumb and I'm not stupid."

She explained how 'this has happened to me so many times' and said racial profiling in Australian stores is 'way too common'.

Emily added how she saw other shoppers were browsing with bags in their hands or arms and weren't approach with the same offer.

"I looked down and saw I was wearing my @clothingthegaps always was always will be scarf and then I looked at her and her friend who was peeping behind in desperation and worry (unnecessary) shook my head and gave her the 2 items," Emily continued.

"She walked back to her now less worried friend and I said out loud 'seriously' to that her response was to come back and tell me 'she just wanted to take the load off' giving her other friend a look of 'I'm a little scared' to this."

The singer said she grabbed her sister and walked out of the store in tears.

It wasn't until the next day that she felt the impact of what had happened and question why 'this still happens'.

Emily lashed out at 'these companies' who she said are willing 'to put blak faces in their campaign and use our bodies to promote their products but do not uphold that level of respect and honouring amongst whom they employ'.

"I'm sick of 'dealing with it' I'm not dumb I'm not stupid, I know when I'm being stereotyped and subjected to racism because I have lived it, seen it, traumatised and hurt because of it," she concluded on Instagram.

Sportsgirl has admitted there was a serious injustice that happened in Emily's case and they have apologised.

"This week, Emily Wurramara, a proud Warnindilyakwa First Nations woman, artist, and role model, bravely called out an incident of racial profiling that happened at one of our Sportsgirl stores," the company said.

"We are deeply and sincerely sorry and take responsibility for the pain, hurt, sadness and frustration this caused Emily and to any others who have experienced any form of racial discrimination."

The company added that Emily's incident 'did not reflect what we stand for as a brand or organisation' and said the response from the staff members was 'simply not ok'.

They have committed to 'listening, unlearning, and relearning' to ensure this never happens again and Sportsgirl insists racial injustice, bias and discrimination has no place in their stores.

"We want to ensure that all our teams are equipped with the right tools and training to be able to deliver a customer service experience that is welcoming and inclusive for everyone who enters our stores," the statement continued.

"This is an important moment for our company, not just for us, or Emily, but for the many young people who engage with Sportsgirl every day."

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Topics: Australia