Target issued a formal apology after the retailer was widely criticized for selling a racist Halloween costume for children.
The costume, which has been rightfully called out as resembling minstrel show imagery and blackface, was being sold on Target’s website as “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume.” The imagery accompanying the listing featured a Black child wearing the costume, which featured an exaggerated smile reminiscent of extremely racist caricatures.
“An apology from us: We pulled an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment,” the company wrote in a statement, which can be seen below. “It is no longer for sale. 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. 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 retailer quickly faced backlash for the costume, raising questions about how it was greenlit and put up for sale. The costume was included as part of its seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand, but the company has not provided details on who designed it.
It’s not the only time that Target has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. As reported by CNBC in 2025, the company confirmed that it would be rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in an internal memo sent to its employees.
“Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” the statement read. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future—all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.”
