Viola Davis shut down Target’s apology after they sparked backlash with an offensive children’s Halloween costume.
“Target, I do not accept your apology, and I do not believe that you understand the impact… the pain… the dehumanization of the above,” Davis, 61, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, August 25. “These images laid the foundation and the ideology for every atrocity that has been committed against my people.”
“We MATTER!!” she added. “You have shown us that you are not on OUR side.”
The costume, which was labeled as the Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume and retailed for $25, was pulled from the brand’s shelves on Monday, August 24, after it faced controversy for resembling minstrel show performers.
“An apology from us: We pulled an offensive Halloween costume that should never have been part of our assortment,” the official Target account wrote in a statement shared via social media on Monday, August 24. “It is no longer for sale. As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry.”
The message continued, “We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members 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.”
Us reached out to Target for comment but did not immediately hear back.
People were quick to share their thoughts on the matter in the comments section. “This had to go through various channels before it even got approved for final production…why this didn’t get flagged from initial adoption is crazy to me. Y’all really need to relearn A LOT🫠,” one social media user wrote. Another questioned, “Literally how’d it get cleared to be sold in the first place?” A third wrote, “This apology is worded terribly.”
This isn’t the first time Target has been under fire. In 2023, the brand was criticized after retailing adult-sized “tuck friendly” swimsuits that were marketed to children.
Target responded to the backlash at the time, writing via their site, “For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month. Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work.”
The statement continued, “Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year.”
