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Target Pulls Racist Clown Costume After Outcry
25 Aug
Summary
- A Halloween costume on Target's site drew backlash for racist imagery.
- Target removed the 'Circus Clown' costume and apologized for selling it.
- The company is reviewing its processes to prevent future incidents.
A Halloween costume sold by Target has been removed following widespread criticism for its resemblance to racist imagery. The product, marketed as a "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit - Hide and EEK!," featured a young Black child model.
Online commentators quickly pointed out the costume's design and imagery evoked offensive racial caricatures. This led to questions about Target's review procedures for such products.
Target has since removed the costume from its sales offerings and issued a public apology. The company acknowledged the significant oversight, stating, "We removed an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment."
The retail giant further expressed regret, noting, "As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry." Target specifically recognized the potential hurt caused to its Black customers, team members, and partners by this incident.
As a first step, Target has prioritized the removal of the costume. The company is also conducting a thorough review of how the product entered their inventory and what changes are necessary to prevent such issues in the future. This controversy emerges more than a year after Target faced scrutiny for adjustments to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
