Target has pulled a children’s Halloween costume from sale and apologized after its design drew comparisons to racist caricatures and minstrel imagery.
The retailer did not try to defend the costume or characterize the complaints as a misunderstanding. In an Aug. 24 statement, Target called the costume offensive and said it “should never have been part of our assortment.”
The costume was sold as a children’s circus clown outfit under Hyde and EEK! Boutique, Target’s seasonal Halloween brand. Images showed a Black child modeling an orange-and-black outfit with black gloves and a mesh face covering featuring an exaggerated toothy smile.
Target said the costume is no longer available for sale. The company also acknowledged that putting it on sale in the first place raised a question it now has to answer.
Off The Shelf
“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry,” Target said.
The company said the costume was especially hurtful to its Black customers, employees, and partners.
“Removing the costume is an important first step, and the company is looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again,” Target said.
The product had been listed for $25 as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume.” Its orange-and-black shirt and pants were accompanied by black gloves and a hooded mesh mask with a small hat attached, according to the since-removed listing.
The costume was designed to glow under blacklight.
Criticism focused particularly on the mask’s exaggerated mouth and the imagery created by the complete costume. Social media users compared it to racist depictions of Black people associated with minstrel shows.
In The Assortment
The costume’s appearance also came shortly after Target publicly celebrated its Halloween merchandise for 2026.
On Aug. 12, the retailer announced this year’s collection, saying nearly 70% of the assortment was new and about 60% was available exclusively at Target.
Target called the collection an example of its “merchandising authority in action.”
The company highlighted costumes as a major part of that assortment, including expanded Pokémon offerings and Target-exclusive costumes tied to popular franchises.
Less than two weeks later, Target was explaining why another costume in its Halloween collection had made it onto the company’s website at all.
Reuters reported that Target declined to say who designed the costume or describe the process through which it was approved for sale.
Hyde and EEK! Boutique is Target’s own seasonal Halloween brand.
For now, Target has provided a considerably clearer answer about the costume itself: It was offensive, it should not have been part of the assortment, and it is no longer for sale.