Target issued an apology after the retail giant promoted Jim Crow minstrel-style imagery masquerading as a children’s Halloween costume on its website. The retailer apologized after receiving backlash over the racist Blackface caricature-style costume.
RELATED: Parents Outraged After Miami Preschool Teacher Paints Blackface On Students For Black History Month
Target Apologizes For Racist Minstrel-Style Halloween Costume
So, Target issued the statement on Monday, August 24, according to Reuters. The retailer’s statement was an apology for promoting the “Kids’ Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit” from Hyde & EEK! Boutique line.
Also, the Halloween costume is a dead-ringer for Blackface caricatures from the minstrel show era between the 1830s and the Jim Crow era in the 1960s. Minstrel shows were performed by white people with burnt cork or shoe polish on their faces. They mocked enslaved Americans on plantations as ignorant, lazy, superstitious, hyper-sexual and cowardly. Furthermore, performers in minstrel shows painted exaggerated, wide red or white smiles on their faces, and the orange-and-black clown-style Halloween costume featured the same offensive imagery.
Stay Connected
Subscribe to updates from The Shade Room
Target’s statement read: “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. 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.”
Roommate Reactions Are Unfiltered
After the news was shared on TSR’s Instagram page, Roomies reacted with unfiltered opinions about the racist children’s Halloween costumes. Not only that, but folks are tired of Target’s excuses over the repeated racist mishaps.
User @midwifeangelina replied, “They’re always issuing an apology. How about don’t do it! 😒.”
@quing.james wrote, “Someone said well if they had black DEI staff, they would not let this pass lol.”
Also, @therealseeon noted, “Target was like ‘y’all forgot about the boycott’ let me remind you 🥴.”
User@sevynthestylist added, “Target be like let me play in yall face again for fun.”
User @shotbyhotrod added, “You know what would help?? if y’all actually hired Black people to be in charge of these type of things so you won’t have slip ups?.”
@iamporshalove replied, “They do this every year. It’s apart of their marketing.”
User @divineseraphyne added, “We know this is especially hurtful to our black guests” SAYS A LOTTT!!!!”
User @mynameisakai added, “I’m convinced that these companies get a kick out of consumers discovering these ‘costumes.’ They’ll deal with the backlash because, ultimately, their stores stay open. They’ll apologize just to do it all over again.”
Meanwhile, @nikkistclair replied, “They deliberately do sh*t and issue a meaningless apology. Gucci, H&M, they all do it. They need to start issuing checks like Dennys did.”
@iam_lexroyal wrote, “I’m tired of them saying sorry chile 😒.”
Target Boycotted After DEI Initiative Roll-Back
Target dropped the DEI initiative programs implemented after George Floyd’s murder amid an executive order by president Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. Not only that, the racist order called diversity, equity, and inclusion “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”
Within days of the executive order, Target announced the company was ending their DEI program. After that, Pastor Jamal Bryant initiated a year-long boycott of Target. The pastor revealed that after a meeting with Target in February, the company committed to increasing its $2 billion commitment to Black-led businesses and community groups by $100 million, per Forbes.
However, Target didn’t bring back the DEI program, and all things considered, the Jim Crow-style costume is another stain on the brand.
