Target has pulled a Halloween costume from shelves after critics said it evoked blackface and minstrel shows.
The costume, which was marketed as the “Kids’ Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit,” prompted backlash on social media, with commentators saying its design resembled racist caricatures. The image for the $25 product, which has been removed from Target’s website, depicted a Black child in an orange and black outfit with a ruffled collar, black gloves and a face covering mimicking an exaggerated, wide smile.
“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry,” Target said in a statement Monday. “The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale.”
The retailer said that the costume was “especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners” and that it was “looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.”
Last year, the company faced criticism for its decision to scale back many of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, amid sweeping efforts from the White House to quash such programs in the public and private sectors.
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