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Target apologizes for racially offensive circus clown Halloween costume and removes it from sale

Target has officially apologized and removed a circus clown Halloween costume from its shelves after critics accused the product of evoking 19th-century minstrel shows and blackface. The 'Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume' prompted significant social media backlash, with many consumers labeling the racist caricature as an offensive oversight in the retail giant's internal review process. Company spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo stated that the retailer 'got this wrong' and acknowledged that the costume was 'especially hurtful' for Black guests and team members. This incident follows a period of recent reputational hits for the company, including a rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals after the administration announced the shift in corporate diversity initiatives. Retail analysts suggest that as Target works to repair its brand reputation, it must avoid these types of optical missteps. The company is currently looking into how the costume was approved for sale to ensure similar errors do not occur in the future.

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