A woman sparked discussion on TikTok after she shared a disturbing experience inside an H&M fitting room in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In her video, she claimed someone recorded her while she was trying on clothes. As the clip circulated, many viewers shifted their focus to the mall itself, saying similar incidents and other crimes have been happening there for years.
‘I Look Up, and There’s a Phone…’
TikTok creator Emily (@emmalee.richard) posted a storytime that has since pulled in more than 82,000 views. She explains that the incident happened during what was supposed to be a quick stop at SouthPark Mall.
Emily says she went to H&M to make a return and ended up grabbing a few items to try on. She wasn’t in the store long and admits she wasn’t paying as much attention as she normally would. “Usually I’m hyper aware of people around me,” she says, explaining that she’s normally cautious in public spaces. That day, she was rushing and distracted.
While changing, she says something alarming happened. “I’m in the changing room and fully unclothed, and I look up, and there’s a phone and a hand leaning over the stall into my changing room,” she says. The phone appeared to be actively recording her.
She immediately yelled and turned to grab her clothes. By the time she reacted, the person had disappeared. She says she never saw a face, only a hand and a phone. “It happened so fast,” she explains, adding that she couldn’t even remember the color of the phone case afterward.
Emily ran straight to the fitting room attendant to report what happened. The attendant checked the stall next to hers, but whoever had been there was already gone. When asked whether anyone had just left the fitting room area, the attendant confirmed that a man had exited moments earlier.
At that point, Emily says fear took over. She describes standing in a crowded mall, knowing the person could be anywhere. “It could be anyone,” she says. “Male, female, literally anyone just in plain sight.”
Mall security eventually arrived, took her statement, and escorted her to her car. While she says security staff were empathetic, she felt unsettled by how quickly the situation ended. “I don’t feel like enough was done,” she says, explaining that she plans to file a police report.
Commenters React
In the comments, people shared similar concerns—both about H&M fitting rooms and SouthPark Mall as a whole.
“The H&M dressing rooms are actually so unsafe. Curtains instead of a door should be illegal,” one person wrote.
Emily herself commented that she had documented the incident with police, mall management, and H&M corporate. “I’m not sensing any urgency,” she wrote, adding that she planned to keep following up.
Others claimed the mall has a pattern of incidents that don’t always make the news. “The news won’t report crimes that happen at SouthPark because they don’t want people to be afraid to shop there,” one person alleged.
Another commenter shared a personal experience: “I worked at SouthPark Mall at Nordstrom. My last day was when a man pulled a gun on me.”
What’s Going On at SouthPark Mall?
Local reports show that police have made multiple arrests at SouthPark Mall in recent weeks, including several for theft-related offenses. Officers recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise during a targeted operation at the mall earlier this month.
The area has also seen more serious crimes in the past, including armed robberies that left shoppers shaken. Commenters noted that SouthPark isn’t alone; other Charlotte malls have dealt with similar issues, reflecting broader concerns about crime in the city.
@emmalee.richard The thought of someone having pictures or videos of me will keep me up at night and truly makes my skin crawl. I’m sure I’m not this persons first victim but I wonder if the others are aware. Be safe everyone, and tbh just don’t go in changing rooms alone @H&M @southparkmall ♬ original sound – Emily not Richard
What To Do If This Happens To You
Recording someone without consent in a private space like a fitting room can fall under video voyeurism laws, which treat these incidents as serious criminal offenses. These laws exist to protect people from being secretly recorded while in vulnerable situations.
If something like this happens, experts advise contacting law enforcement immediately and giving as much detail as possible. Many malls rely heavily on surveillance cameras, which can help investigators retrace what happened if action is taken quickly.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Emily via TikTok messages and to H&M via email for comment.
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