Target is facing renewed backlash after a Halloween costume controversy. The retailer apologized and pulled a children’s clown costume after shoppers online said its design—a dark face covering with an exaggerated smile—evoked blackface and 19th-century minstrel imagery. Black consumers who’d already felt alienated by Target’s 2025 DEI rollbacks expressed disappointment once again. It’s the latest in a string of reputational hits for the brand—from its 2023 Pride Collection fallout to its DEI reversal—that critics say has left it increasingly out of step with the diverse, values-driven customer base (Gen Z and Millennials especially) it spent years courting. Target has had back-to-back strong quarters, but as one analyst noted, the company has little room for missteps as it works to rebuild trust. And for young consumers who increasingly vote with their wallets on brand values, incidents like this can undo a lot of that progress fast. (CNBC)
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