by Francis Ackhalbey, Face2FaceAfrica.com
Target on Monday issued an apology and announced it had removed a Halloween costume that was deemed to be synonymous with Blackface and minstrel shows.
Per Reuters, the company received backlash on social media, as some customers alleged that the costume it was selling looked like a racist caricature. The costume in question was labeled as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume.”
“We removed an offensive costume that should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer for sale,” the company said in the statement. “As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners.”
The American retailer also emphasized that “removing the costume is an important first step, and we are looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.”
This recent incident reportedly comes in the wake of Target’s attempt to bounce back from weak sales.
In 2025, the company also came under serious scrutiny after announcing a rollback on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The announcement came after President Donald Trump pressured American companies to roll back their DEI programs. Some people also registered their displeasure with the retailer over how it managed its 2023 Pride Collection.
Sheletta Brundidge, who is a Minneapolis-area business leader, told Reuters that the company’s decision to put the costume up for sale was an indirect consequence of its DEI decision.
“You rolled back diversity,” Brundidge said, “so who’s in the room, now, to say ‘hey, this is wrong?’”
Brett Husslein, an analyst at Morningstar also said, “As Target begins to gain traction in repairing its brand reputation, this is exactly the kind of stuff they want to avoid.”
Husslein added that any optical, managerial, or macroeconomic setback “could lead to further market share losses.”