Target Halloween Costume Controversy Spurs Internal Apology and Backlash
Target’s Chief Merchandising Officer told employees via an internal email that a Halloween costume never should have been in its assortment, echoing the company’s apology. The episode reignited broader criticism linked to earlier product missteps and a prior rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Some stakeholders called for boycotts, while analysts pointed to the risk of weakened consumer trust.