Riz Ahmed was banned from Tesco store after being falsely accused of shoplifting

NewsFilm News Riz Ahmed was banned from Tesco store after being falsely accused of shoplifting The Oscar winner also discussed his Bond-themed series 'Bait' By Victoria Luxford 20th March 2026 Riz Ahmed (right) alongside Guz Khan in 'Bait'. CREDIT: Amazon MGM Studios Riz Ahmed has revealed he was banned from a supermarket after being falsely accused of shoplifting. The celebrated British actor is best known for his roles In Rogue One, Venom, and Nightcrawler, becoming an Oscar winner in 2022 for his short film The Long Goodbye. However, in a new interview with GQ, he discussed how rising to fame did not always mean his personal life was running smoothly. Advertisement As an example, he recalled a time just after Venom was released when he was banned from a branch of Tesco in Old Kent Road, London. “They thought I was shoplifting,” he recalled. “My washing machine was broken, so I had one of those massive laundry bags full of all my laundry, and the only clothes I had were insane – I had [on] this bright green puffer and pink fucking swim shorts or something.” Having set off the alarm falsely, security intervened. “They banned me,” he said. “And again, the texts are coming in: ‘Bro, you’re smashing it.’” Ahmed is currently starring in the Prime Video comedy Bait, about an actor who suffers an identity crisis when he becomes linked to the role of James Bond. Speaking on his feelings about the iconic role, he said: “on some level, everyone wants that role. It’s the pinnacle of cinematic achievement, alpha masculinity, desirability, career success. It’s like being crowned. There was an element or part of me that wanted it, but I never thought there was a massive risk that it would happen.” Recommended Bait premieres on March 25. Last year, Ahmed discussed the medical condition that saw him hospitalised while shooting Star Wars prequel Rogue One. “I was building myself up from scratch” he said. “It was super scary and intense and quite prolonged, actually. For a minute, I was like, ‘Am I ever going to get my life back?’ Related TopicsJames BondRiz AhmedRogue OneVenom You May Also Like Advertisement TRENDING Elsas makes choral, Spanish alt-pop for lover girls: “Getting my heart broken is a great muse” Jack Harlow – ‘Monica’ review: pivot into jazzy R&B struggles to leave a lasting impact How ‘Life Is Strange’s main character became its charming indie rock soundtrack In Naïka’s sensuous ‘world pop’, “people from everywhere find home in each other” Timothée Chalamet’s rough night and all the Oscars 2026 shocks, snubs and surprises Advertisement More Stories Film News Riz Ahmed was banned from Tesco store after being falsely accused of shoplifting Film News Kirsten Dunst joins ‘A Minecraft Movie’ sequel after joking about wanting “a pile of cash” Music News The Cure’s Robert Smith reveals he’s “enjoyed a couple of memorable nights in the studio” with Olivia Rodrigo Music News Watch Lily Allen unveil original ‘West End Girl’ painting at London’s National Portrait Gallery Music News Listen to Foo Fighters’ raw new single ‘Caught In The Echo’ Album Reviews Underscores – ‘U’ review: zeitgeisty hyperpop for an overstimulated, isolated generation