{
  "id": 3097369,
  "title": "Target apologizes for children’s clown Halloween costume after backlash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/target-apologizes-for-childrens-clown-halloween-costume-after-backlash",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-24T19:37:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/target-apologizes-for-childrens-clown-halloween-costume-after-backlash-4874089"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Target, the U.S. retailer, issued an apology on Monday and announced the discontinuation of a Halloween costume that drew criticism for resembling a racist caricature. The product, marketed as the Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume, prompted outrage on social media due to its perceived association with blackface and minstrel shows. Target acknowledged its mistake, stating, \"As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry.\" The costume, part of the retailer's seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand, will no longer be available for purchase. This latest controversy adds to Target's list of optics challenges as it attempts to recover from a period of declining sales. The company has also faced backlash over its handling of products in its 2023 Pride Collection and revisions to its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives following the return of former President Donald Trump to the White House. Target has not disclosed information regarding the product's designer or the decision-making process behind its release. Instead, the company expressed a commitment to examining the incident and implementing necessary changes. Some Black shoppers, who had grown disillusioned by Target's 2025 DEI rollbacks, expressed disappointment upon learning about the costume. Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis-area business leader, suggested that the incident may have been a consequence of the company's decision to ease diversity initiatives. Despite strong quarterly earnings, Target is experiencing a resurgence in sales due to price reductions and refreshed merchandise, a trend praised by Wall Street analysts. However, the retailer faces significant challenges in maintaining its market share, as it cannot match the pricing of competitors like Walmart and Costco. Analyst Brett Husslein from Morningstar emphasized the importance of avoiding any managerial or optical missteps, as such errors could further erode consumer trust. Target's shares experienced a 2.7% increase in afternoon trading following the apology.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}