Hobbycraft apologises to woman claiming she was thrown out of store for objecting to ‘No Terfs’ badge
"[We] have apologised and launched an immediate internal investigation," says a representative from the retail brand
By Aaron Sugg
Hobbycraft has apologised to a customer who claimed she was thrown out of its Dundee store in Scotland after objecting to a staff member wearing a “No Terfs” badge.
The customer, posting on X under the names ‘Bex’ and ‘sewingwithsteel’, said she and her husband were allegedly removed by a manager due to their “gender critical beliefs”.
She claimed the staff member became hostile after she explained that being a TERF is a legally protected belief under the Equality Act.
“Publicly humiliate us for objecting to the discriminatory badge” – woman removed from Dundee Hobbycraft claimed
@Hobbycraft apparently bars GC people from its shops. I was in the #Dundee store with my partner today.
— Bex (@sewingwithsteel) October 26, 2025
Staff member wore a badge reading ‘no terfs no tories’ as part of her uniform.
We confronted the badge.
We got chucked out for doing so. pic.twitter.com/1lklFkCXQf
Posting her complaint to X, she wrote: “We very much felt like she was attempting to make a spectacle of us and publicly humiliate us for objecting to the discriminatory badge that she was wearing.”
Allegedly, after speaking to the manager, she continued: “Without even taking a moment to ask my partner and I to explain the situation, he told us we ‘need to go and read a biology textbook!’”
She added: “He told us that we can write a letter of complaint if we wish and that we should leave. He was clearly ejecting us on the grounds of our gender critical beliefs.”
“This is outrageous” – Women’s Create commenting on Hobbycraft removing the female artist
Tut tut, @Hobbycraft, this is unlawful discrimination.
— For Women Scotland (@ForWomenScot) October 27, 2025
Your staff have no business refusing customers because of their political views and your managers need to leave their personal issues at home. Better get the lawyers on this one or apologise! https://t.co/tU3VV4zaV3
The incident was criticised by women’s rights groups, including For Women Scotland, who described it as “unlawful discrimination” in a post to X.
Women’s Create, also commented: “This is outrageous that women artists are being banned from stores simply for their protected and rational beliefs.”
Hobbycraft responded to the claims on social media, stating: “At Hobbycraft, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all. We’re aware of concerns raised about our Dundee store and are in contact with the customer involved. An internal investigation is underway.”
“We’re sorry that the customer was asked to leave the store” – Hobbycraft representative told Attitude
In a statement to Attitude, a Hobbycraft representitve said the retail brand was “sorry” to the customer: “We are aware of the incident and are taking the matter seriously.”
They added: “We’re sorry that the customer was asked to leave the store, have apologised and launched an immediate internal investigation. We will remain in contact with the customer throughout this process.”
The company has faced backlash from members of the public for issuing the apology, with online users commenting on the investigation.
One user wrote: “The customer in question is a homophobe and a transphobe. Your staff member should be commended for reiterating their allyship to LGBTQIA+ people during a moral panic. Gender critical ideology is just homophobia and transphobia pushed by jobsworths who want to complain.”