Target万圣节小丑服装下架争议引发抵制呼声，股价跌约5%

Target (TGT) shares fell up to 5% after the retailer pulled a controversial Halloween costume and issued an apology, raising fresh concerns over brand missteps amid its ongoing financial recovery.
In an internal email viewed by Reuters, Chief Merchandising Officer Cara Sylvester echoed Target's public apology on Monday, telling employees the item "never should have been in our assortment" and that the company would "learn from this and do better."
The Halloween costume is "another example ... where Target has lost trust with its consumer base," said Tejal Patel, executive director of SOC Investment Group, a Target shareholder that has long criticized company leadership, according to a Reuters report.
Morningstar analyst Brett Husslein said the share drop reflected "the fragility of (Target's) competitive positioning," noting that it relies on consumer relations and shopping experience to compete with retailers like Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST) that win on price.
The product, sold as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," prompted backlash on social media as some consumers said it resembled a racist caricature evocative of minstrel shows. "We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners," Target said in Monday's statement.
Sheletta Brundidge, a Minneapolis entrepreneur who last year protested Target's DEI rollbacks, said the retailer's apology did not sway her. "Target keeps showing us who they are," she said, as per the report.
A post in BlackPeopleofReddit, a Reddit community with 1.6 million members, urged a Target boycott. Several users commented that they had boycotted the company since its DEI reversal.
Target's (TGT) new CEO Michael Fiddelke has cut prices and refreshed merchandise, and there are some positive results. The company has reported consecutive strong quarters, with shares up about 70% this year and reaching a near two-year high on Monday.