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Target Apologizes, Pulls Children's Clown Halloween Costume After Backlash

General7 sourcesAug 25, 2026
FlatRigor 487 sources

The Story

Target apologized for a children's Halloween clown costume that sparked backlash on social media and announced it will no longer sell the item. The company stated on X Monday, "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." Social media users on platforms including X, Threads, and Instagram likened the product to racist depictions of Black people, saying it evoked Jim Crow-era caricatures and blackface minstrel imagery. The product, listed as "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," featured a Black child dressed in a colorful orange and black top, solid black gloves, and a large mask depicting a broad smile. The costume was removed from Target's online store. Target has faced similar criticisms in the past, including removing an "Illegal Alien" Halloween costume in 2009 and a "Women's Granny Costume" in 2016. Walmart also faced backlash in 2015 for selling a children's Halloween costume modeled after an Israeli soldier's uniform.

The Spread

What they agree on

  • Target apologized for a children's Halloween clown costume.
  • The company pulled the costume from its assortment and will no longer sell it.
  • Social media users criticized the costume for evoking racist Jim Crow-era caricatures and blackface minstrel imagery.
  • The costume was listed as "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume."
  • Target is investigating how the product ended up in its stores.

Where they split

  • Business Insider and Snopes provide specific details about the costume's appearance, including the depiction of a Black child in the product image and the description of the mask.
  • Business Insider includes context about Target rolling back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and mentions previous controversies involving Halloween costumes at Target and Walmart.
  • GB News frames the backlash as "woke outrage," a characterization not used by other outlets.
  • Snopes explicitly states its rating of the claim as "True" after contacting Target for confirmation.

Source Perspectives

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Center2 sources
Right1 source