Target pulls Glows Under Blacklight costume after racist comparisons
A $25 Halloween costume, marketed with a Black child in imagery compared to segregation-era blackface caricatures, was removed from Target’s website after posts spread on Aug. 23. Target apologized and said the costume was offensive. The company is reviewing how it happened, amid continuing backlash and boycott efforts following a 2025 rollback of DEI initiatives.
Coverage (8)
- Target faces calls for change after costume blunder (indystar.com)
- After Target's Apology Over A Racist Costume Sparked More Backlash, Viola Davis Drops A Scathing Response (ca.style.yahoo.com)
- Target faces renewed backlash after selling a Halloween costume with 'minstrel show features' (pbs.org)
- Target apologizes over Halloween costume accused of resembling minstrel caricature (americanbazaaronline.com)
- Target faces renewed backlash for Halloween costume with 'minstrel show features' (npr.org)
- Target faces renewed backlash after stocking Halloween costume with ‘minstrel show features’ (bangordailynews.com)
- Target Apologizes and Drops Halloween Costume Criticized as Racist (nytimes.com)
- Target pulls Halloween costume that drew comparisons to blackface caricatures, apologizes (fastcompany.com)