Target has issued a groveling apology after backlash over a child’s Halloween clown costume that drew criticism because it was perceived to be racist by some.
The retail giant was badly spooked after some likened the costume to blackface and old time minstrel shows, yanking the item off of shelves faster than you can say “trick or treat” and putting out a panicky statement begging for forgiveness.
Target has removed a children’s Halloween costume from its website after critics said the design evoked racist minstrel and blackface imagery. The company issued an apology, calling the product “offensive”: https://t.co/b5SNTDS3By pic.twitter.com/jNSxY5dKi9
— snopes.com (@snopes) August 24, 2026
“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale,” Target said in a Monday statement.
“We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners,” the statement continued. “Removing the costume is an important first step, and the company is looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.”
An apology from us: We pulled an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer for sale. As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners.…
— Target News (@TargetNews) August 24, 2026
Black critics pounced to link the lack of proper screening of its products to Target’s rollback of its discriminatory Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs after the Trump administration took office last year.
“’You rolled back diversity,’ she said, ‘so who’s in the room, now, to say ‘hey, this is wrong?’’” Minneapolis-area business leader Sheletta Brundidge was quoted by CNN.
The situation is so sensitive that Target did a Hillary Clinton and turned off replies to its statement on X. But the decision is going to haunt the big box chain for a long time with the ghouls of the racism industrial complex swarming like sharks.
You sided with the Trump administration’s scare tactics over DEI, lost a loyal Black customer base as well as Black voices that were formerly in the room. That’s HOW it happened and why we will continue to boycott you until you put some REAL CHANGE in motion. https://t.co/XXWkQDrz5v
— Michelle_BYoung (@michelle_byoung) August 24, 2026
Comments turned off. Racists usually are cowards, so it tracks. https://t.co/fAyGtn7j6A
— Drew Dixon (@deardrewdixon) August 24, 2026
How many times they gotta keep spitting in your face https://t.co/jgHtijnfTT pic.twitter.com/7XicD9BJjz
— Ichigo Niggasake (@SomaKazima2) August 25, 2026
if only they had staff that could’ve prevented this https://t.co/gsIoqkyIlm pic.twitter.com/g0LcM0Z8AO
— gar (@g4rnish) August 25, 2026
Target keeps getting it wrong because they refuse to include Black people in leadership positions. Told you guys, anti-DEI is racism. https://t.co/GPaWlXbzaz
— Dr. Allison Wiltz (@queenie4rmnola) August 25, 2026
genuinely nothing could’ve prepared me for how racist that shit was like other people said I thought it would be some kind of unfortunate resemblance to a hate symbol or something but NO that is very direct https://t.co/4XbqFLW8Rz
— elf 🧚 (@Machin3_Elf) August 25, 2026
A hysterical outrage campaign over a Halloween costume is the last thing that the Minneapolis-based company needs with sales already likely to take a hit after American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten urged teachers and families to buy their school supplies elsewhere because Target’s CEO has declined to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
“As Target begins to gain traction in repairing its brand reputation, this is exactly the kind of stuff they want to avoid,” said Morningstar analyst Brett Husslein, according to CNN, adding that the situation “could lead to further market share losses.”
There is nothing quite like the threat of a boycott to put the fear into Target which hasn’t forgotten the cost of promoting its transgender merchandise to kids a few years back and the costly public backlash that hit the company where it hurts.
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