Target has removed a Halloween costume from its stores and website after the product generated online backlash from critics who accused the design of evoking blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows, as reported by The New York Post.
The Minneapolis-based retailer apologized for the costume Tuesday after the product attracted attention on social media.
The costume had been marketed as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume” and was part of Target’s seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand.
“It is no longer for sale. As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry”https://t.co/0Cifv9n6YD
— WSYX ABC 6 (@wsyx6) August 25, 2026
Target said the costume should not have been included in its merchandise assortment and is no longer available for purchase.
“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.
Harper-Tibaldo said the company was also considering how the product made it through its review process and what changes could be made to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
“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,” he continued.
An apology from us: We pulled an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment. 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.…
— Target News (@TargetNews) August 24, 2026
The costume’s removal followed criticism on social media, where some users accused Target of selling merchandise that recalled racist imagery.
Target pulls Halloween costume that resembled Blackface and minstrel imagery https://t.co/7RHx7vVSnk pic.twitter.com/DvG0XgTEd2
— Dangerous Minds (@DangerMindsBlog) August 25, 2026
One user on Threads questioned how the product made it through the company’s review process, writing, “You really don’t have anyone left in Minneapolis to say, ‘Hey, that’s racist’? Y’all cut DEI, and now you’ve got a minstrel clown costume for kids on your website.”
The controversy comes as Target continues to deal with the fallout from several high-profile business and reputational disputes in recent years.
The retailer faced significant criticism surrounding its Pride Collection in 2023, while its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has also changed.
Target scaled back several DEI initiatives after President Donald Trump returned to the White House and issued executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
The company subsequently reduced initiatives designed to increase representation among Black employees and support Black-owned businesses and suppliers.
Target said the changes were necessary to remain aligned with “the evolving external landscape.”
Those changes themselves prompted criticism from some Black consumers and business owners who had supported or benefited from Target’s previous diversity programs.
The Halloween costume controversy now adds another issue for the retailer as it enters the important fall shopping season.
Target sells a wide range of Halloween merchandise each year, including costumes and decorations through its seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand.
The specific costume has since been removed from sale, and Target said it is examining how the item was approved and included in its assortment.
The company did not provide additional details about how many of the costumes were sold or how long the product had been available before it was pulled.
The controversy centered on the appearance and design of the costume, with critics arguing that it evoked historical imagery associated with blackface and minstrel performances.
Target’s decision to remove the product followed the online criticism rather than waiting for the controversy to continue growing. The company characterized the removal as an initial step while it reviews its internal processes.
The episode arrives at a time when major retailers remain under close scrutiny over the products they sell and the cultural positions they take.
Target has previously faced consumer backlash over its merchandise and corporate policies, making the latest dispute another challenge for the Minneapolis retailer.
For now, the costume is no longer available for purchase, and Target says it is reviewing what led to the product appearing in its Halloween assortment in the first place.
