'This Is Wrong and This Is Racist': Target Pulls Halloween Costume, Apologizes After Backlash
Target removed the $25 costume after social media backlash and apologized, saying the item was offensive and should never have been sold.
- On Sunday, Target pulled the "Kids' Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit" from its website after social media users alleged the design's exaggerated facial features resembled racist blackface and minstrel imagery.
- Social media users drew comparisons between the costume's exaggerated smile, the child model's pose, and historical Jim Crow-era caricatures; the $25 product was sold under Target's Hyde & EEK! Boutique collection.
- Blackface minstrelsy, which emerged in the 1830s, utilized exaggerated makeup and performances to mock African Americans; the National Museum of African American History and Culture describes these performances as "comedic performances of 'blackness' by whites in exaggerated costumes."
- This incident follows Target's 2025 decision to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and its 2023 Pride Collection controversies, prompting observers to question whether diverse voices shaped the costume approval process.
- Target apologized Monday, stating "the costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment" and confirming it is "no longer available for sale." The company said it is "looking closely at how this happened" to prevent future errors.
20 Articles
20 Articles
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Target has been under fire after a racist Halloween costume was discovered on the company’s web store. The company has […] The post What Costume Did Target Remove? Halloween Item Sparked Controversy, Leading to an Apology appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News and Gossip
Target pulls Halloween costume that drew comparisons to blackface caricatures, apologizes
Target has removed a children’s Halloween costume from its website after social media users pointed out that it closely resembled imagery from Jim Crow-era blackface minstrelsy. The $25 costume—listed as “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit”—had a black-and-orange harlequin pattern alongside a mask featuring an oversize, exaggerated smile. The product’s marketing photograph showcased a Black child wearing the cos…
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