Target Pulls Clown Halloween Costume After Backlash, Says ‘We Got This Wrong’ in Apology Note
Target Pulls Clown Halloween Costume After Backlash, Says ‘We Got This Wrong’ in Apology Note
Madison E. GoldbergTue, August 25, 2026 at 2:14 AM UTC
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Target logo signCredit: Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty -
Target has removed a Halloween costume after it was criticized for resembling blackface and racist minstrel show imagery. The retail franchise also issued an apology on Monday, Aug. 24
The costume featured a Black child model in a pose linked to Jim Crow-era stereotypes, sparking widespread backlash
The controversy follows Target’s rollback of DEI initiatives and ongoing criticism from consumers and company stakeholders
Target has removed a clown Halloween costume following criticisms that it evoked blackface, minstrel shows and racist imagery.
“An apology from us: We removed an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment,” Target wrote in a statement shared on social media on Monday, Aug. 24. “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,” the statement from Target continued. “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.”
In photos of the now-deleted costume, sold as “Kids’ Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown,” a young Black boy modeled the outfit, which featured a black-and-orange printed bodysuit and hood with an exaggerated smile and mini top hat.
The model’s pose, in which he stands with one leg and arm raised in a waving gesture, particularly sparked criticism for its affiliation with Jim Crow-era negative depictions of Black people, according to The Cut.
The offensive Halloween costume pulled from TargetCredit: Target
“Target, for real? I’m not surprised, but this is a new low,” comedian LaTrez Anderson said in a now-deleted Instagram Reel about the costume, per the outlet.
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“The amount of people this costume had to go through to get approved says A. LOT. WHAT YEAR IS IT!?” an Instagram user commented on Target’s apology post.
Blackface is defined as “dark makeup worn to mimic the appearance of a Black person and especially to mock or ridicule Black people,” according to Merriam-Webster. The use of blackface in the U.S. was initially recorded through “minstrel shows,” in which white performers would wear blackface and mock Black people based on negative stereotypes, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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The Halloween costume controversy comes nearly a year after Target rolled back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Target CEO Brian Cornell later stepped down after 11 years with the company, it announced in August 2025. Target has faced consumer boycotts since early last year due to the DEI cuts, PEOPLE previously reported.
Anne and Lucy Dayton, the daughters of one of Target’s co-founders, called the company’s actions “a betrayal” at the time, CNN previously reported.
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
