Mother and son denied service at Kotipizza in Seinäjoki due to traditional clothing

Nadja Stenroth from Seinäjoki and her 5-year-old son experienced an upsetting incident during their planned puppy meet-up last week. While walking to the event, they stopped at a nearby Kotipizza to buy a bottle of water. To their surprise, they were denied service. Upon entering the restaurant, a male staff member asked them to leave, stating, “people in traditional clothing are not served here.”

Stenroth, who has Romani roots, was stunned by the treatment. She recorded the interaction on her phone, which clearly shows the refusal to sell. The video, shared on TikTok, has garnered over 260,000 views and numerous comments, including her son’s question: “Mom, is there something wrong with me?”

Stenroth expressed deep sadness over the event, stating she does not wish to instill hate in her son but was upset on his behalf, given his innocence in such situations. She chose not to call the police at first, as her son appeared confused, but he later raised the issue again when going to bed. Stenroth reassured him that there was nothing wrong with him, but rather it was the world that was imbalanced.

This was not Stenroth’s first experience of being turned away from a restaurant, but it was the first time it involved her child. The Kotipizza chain later apologized for the incident, claiming that the refusal was not racially motivated but based on previous issues with customers in traditional attire. However, Stenroth felt the apology seemed insincere.

The incident has drawn attention to rising hostility towards Romani people in the area, particularly after a recent shooting incident. Stenroth filed a discrimination report with the police, which confirmed the case has been recorded.