Shopper who confronted Woolies CEO identified as Pro-Palestinian student activist

The angry customer who assaulted the CEO of Woolworths in her local supermarket has turned out to be a pro-Palestinian student activist who is drawing links between Australia’s cost of living crisis and the conflict in Gaza.

University of Wollongong student Megan Guy gained national attention after she confronted Woolies CEO Amanda Bardwell at a store in Warrawong, New South Wales’ Illawarra region, on Tuesday.

She asked the CEO how she could sleep at night knowing that “millions” of Australian workers were going hungry, while Woolworths was making “huge profits” during a cost of living crisis.

Ms Guy defended her actions during an appearance on Sky News on Wednesday, saying she had received a tip-off that Ms Bardwell was visiting the store.

“I make no apologies for standing up against oppression, against genocide and against the profit motives of big corporations like Woolies and Coles,” she said.

‘I thought I would take the opportunity to tell the new CEO the truth and to express the anger that millions of working class people are currently facing because of the profiteering that is taking place during the cost of living crisis.’

Ms Guy told Sky News presenter Kieran Gilbert there was a link between Australia’s cost of living crisis and the country’s support for Israel.

“I think there is a connection between the Albanian government supporting a regime that is committing genocide and wants to advance the interests of Australia’s imperialist connections, and a government that is overseeing one of the biggest attacks on living standards that we have seen in decades,” she said.

Megan Guy garnered national media attention when she confronted Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell (circled) at her local supermarket in Wollongong on Tuesday

Gilbert asked Ms Guy if she had any “regrets” about hosting an eight-week pro-Palestinian camp at her university, which exposed Jewish students, staff and alumni to anti-Semitism.

“Do you feel sorry for those students, who have nothing to do with the state of Israel? They are just trying to get their education,” Gilbert asked.

The activist said there was a “false conflation” between a student being Jewish and supporting Israel.

“But that’s clearly not the case for a lot of young Jewish students,” she said.

‘That’s at the heart of the pro-Palestine campaign in the United States: Jewish students who disagree that being Jewish means supporting a state that commits genocide.

“So no, I wouldn’t make that confusion.”

Ms Guy claimed there was a link between Australia’s cost of living crisis and that country’s support for Israel.

“I think there is a connection between the Albanian government supporting a regime that is committing genocide and wants to advance the interests of Australia’s imperialist connections, and a government that is overseeing one of the biggest attacks on living standards that we have seen in decades,” she said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the University of Wollongong for comment.

The activist came under fire on Tuesday after she questioned Ms Bardwell, who visited the store along with Big W legal director Bill Reid and managing director Daniel Hake, about Woolworths’ profits.

“What do you think about your company profiting from excessive prices during the cost of living crisis?” she asked the CEO.

“Thank you for contacting us,” Mrs. Bardwell replied.

“We’re doing everything we can to recognize that customers are struggling and make sure they get great prices.”

Ms Guy accused the supermarket giant of being a “vulture capitalist enterprise”.

“Your company just bought an entire additional supermarket chain through a predatory capitalist enterprise so you can continue to make vast sums of money while the working class suffers. Can you sleep at night knowing that?” she asked.

Ms Bardwell responded: ‘Our team is doing everything we can to support our customers. We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time.’

Ms Guy (pictured) was asked if she ‘regretted’ organising eight-week pro-Palestine camps at her university, which left Jewish students exposed to anti-Semitism

Many Australians praised Ms Guy for her efforts.

“I’m tired of paying almost $300 a week for groceries. That’s choosing the cheapest products. My fridge still looks half empty when I unpack,” said one.

“I am sure Coles and Woolworth management are not in a cost of living crisis as they are getting bigger and bigger bonuses every year,” wrote a second.

A third said: ‘The supermarkets do it to make huge profits. They don’t care about their customers, they never have.’

Ms Bardwell, a long-standing Woolworths employee, was appointed the supermarket giant’s new CEO in February following the resignation of Brad Banducci.

The CEO has been with Woolworths Group for 23 years, including as head of marketing, and took up her new role on September 1, 2024.

Her new position will pay her $2.15 million a year, slightly less than Mr. Banducci’s base salary of $2.6 million.