Target has removed a children’s Halloween costume from its stores and website following widespread criticism that the outfit evoked racist blackface and minstrel imagery.
Target confirmed the removal in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on August 24, 2026, calling the costume ‘offensive’ and acknowledging it ‘should never have been part of [its] assortment.’ The retailer also apologized, stating the item was ‘especially hurtful for [its] Black guests, team members and partners.’
The costume in question, listed under Target’s Hyde & EEK! Boutique brand, was titled the ‘Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume.’ It featured an orange-and-black clown or jester-like suit, complete with gloves, a top hat, and a face covering with an exaggerated toothy smile. A promotional image showed a Black child wearing the outfit, which critics compared to Jim Crow-era minstrel performances and blackface caricatures.
Target stated it is reviewing how the costume was approved and will examine ‘what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.’ The product was no longer available for purchase at the time of reporting.
The controversy follows Target’s 2025 rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, with some observers questioning whether reduced oversight contributed to the oversight. Minneapolis-area business leader Sheletta Brundidge suggested the misstep reflected a lack of diverse perspectives in product development, telling Reuters, ‘You rolled back diversity, so who’s in the room now to say ‘hey, this is wrong?’
This is not the first time Target has faced criticism over Halloween merchandise. In 2009, the retailer removed an ‘Illegal Alien’ costume after immigrant-rights advocates objected. In 2016, it pulled a ‘Women’s Granny Costume’ from its website after the same design was sold elsewhere under a transphobic name, though Target said it had received no complaints about its own listing.
The company has not disclosed who designed the costume or provided further details about its internal review process.