Target Pulls Offensive Clown Costume, Issues Apology
A spokesperson for the retailer said the Halloween product, which drew comparisons to blackface caricatures, should have never been sold.
Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images.
Target has issued an apology after pulling a Halloween costume that drew backlash online for its resemblance to racist caricatures evoking blackface and minstrel shows. The costume was sold as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit," as part of the retailer's seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand. After social media users criticized the product as racist, Target removed the costume and now says it should never have been featured in stores.
"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," company spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said in a statement to FOX Business. "We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners. 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.”
The wave of online criticism comes on the heels of several controversies for the brand in recent years. Its 2023 Pride Collection drew conservative backlash, while Target’s subsequent decision to remove certain products and relocate some displays was criticized by LGBTQ advocates and allies; and in 2025, its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives after President Donald Trump returned to the White House led to calls for a boycott from Black customers.
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