Target is facing major backlash after selling a children’s Halloween costume that critics said resembled racist blackface and minstrel-show imagery.
The retailer removed the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume” from its stores and website after images of the costume began circulating online. The outfit featured an orange-and-black design, black gloves and a mask with an exaggerated smile. Critics said the overall presentation echoed racist caricatures used to demean Black people during the Jim Crow era.
Target later issued a public apology, admitting the costume “should never have been part of our assortment.” The company said it recognizes the hurt caused to Black customers, employees and partners and is reviewing how the product made it through its approval process.
But actress Viola Davis made it clear that she was not satisfied with the response.
“I do not accept your apology,” Davis wrote on Instagram, adding that the imagery represents a painful history of dehumanization and racism. She ended her message by emphasizing, “We MATTER.”
The controversy has also renewed conversations about representation behind the scenes and whether diverse voices are present when major companies make decisions about products and marketing.