Target has apologized to its customers for a Halloween comedian costume that sparked backlash connected societal media — and says it won't beryllium trading the item.
"An apology from us: We pulled an violative Halloween costume that should ne'er person been portion of our assortment. It is nary longer for sale," the institution wrote successful a statement connected X connected Monday.
Business Insider viewed dozens of posts connected societal media, successful which group posted screenshots of a Target merchandise listed nether the sanction "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume." The merchandise image showed a Black kid dressed successful a colorful orangish and achromatic top, paired pinch coagulated achromatic gloves and a ample disguise depicting a wide smile.
Several societal media users connected X, Threads, and Instagram likened the merchandise to racist depictions of Black people, saying it evoked Jim Crow-era caricatures and blackface minstrel imagery.
The merchandise was not listed connected Target's online shop astatine property time.
"As a company, we sewage this wrong, and we are profoundly sorry. We cognize this is particularly hurtful for our Black guests, squad members and partners," Target said successful its statement.
The institution said that it is besides looking into really the merchandise ended up successful stores, and will analyse "what needs to alteration to guarantee this won't hap again."
The Halloween costume contention comes astir a twelvemonth aft Target rolled back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
This besides isn't the first clip Target has faced disapproval complete a Halloween product.
In 2009, the retailer removed an "Illegal Alien" Halloween costume from its website aft complaints from immigrant-rights advocates. The costume featured a space-alien mask, an orangish jumpsuit base the words "Illegal Alien," and a clone greenish card, per ABC News.
In 2016, Target besides pulled a "Women's Granny Costume" aft the aforesaid outfit was sold connected different retailers' websites nether a transphobic name. Target told Fortune it had received nary complaints astir its listing but removed the costume "out of respect for nationalist concerns."
Halloween costumes person landed different awesome retailers successful basking h2o complete the years.
Walmart faced backlash successful 2015 for trading a children's Halloween costume modeled aft an Israeli soldier's uniform. It besides carried a latex prosthetic called the "Sheik Fagin Nose," marketed arsenic "perfect for an Arab Sheik," which drew disapproval online, per NBC.
UK retailers Asda and Tesco besides removed 2 Halloween costumes successful 2017 aft complaints that they reinforced harmful stereotypes astir intelligence illness, per BBC.
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Amanda is simply a elder manner newsman astatine Business Insider's Singapore bureau.Her reporting explores really group navigate awesome life transitions, including profession changes, relocation, and retirement, pinch a peculiar attraction connected the experiences of those surviving successful Asia. She besides writes astir travel, culture, wellness, and relationships.In 2025, she won the Singapore Press Club's Rising Stars Young Digital Journalist Award.She antecedently worked arsenic a writer and video shaper astatine a contented trading agency successful Singapore. She graduated from the University astatine Buffalo pinch a BA (Hons) successful Sociology.
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