Spotlight Target apologizes for 'offensive' Halloween costume after backlash Jessica Guynn USA Today Aug 25, 2026 Aug 25, 2026 Updated Aug 28, 2026 0 × USA Today - Vertical Retail stores are stocking Halloween merchandise early, featuring seasonal home decor, apparel, pet toys and festive accessories. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Target apologized for a Halloween circus clown costume that critics said appeared to conjure Blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows.kAm%96 4@DEF>6[ D@=5 2D E96 Qz:5DV v=@HD &?56C q=24<=:89E r:C4FD r=@H? w2==@H66? r@DEF>6[Q AC@>AE65 2 D@4:2= >65:2 324<=2D9]k^AmkAmQpD 2 4@>A2?J[ H6 <?@H H6 8@E E9:D HC@?8[ 2?5 H6 2C6 566A=J D@CCJ] %96 4@DEF>6 :D @776?D:G6 2?5 D9@F=5 ?6G6C 92G6 366? A2CE @7 @FC 2DD@CE>6?E[Q %2C86E D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am People walk by a Target store in midtown Manhattan in New York City, March 21, 2025. Kylie Cooper, Reuters kAm%2C86E D2:5 :E 92D AF==65 E96 4@DEF>6 E92E H2D D@=5 2D A2CE @7 :ED D62D@?2= wJ56 2?5 ttz q@FE:BF6 3C2?5]k^Am kAmxE H2D E96 =2E6DE :? 2 D6C:6D @7 C6AFE2E:@?2= 3=@HD E92E 92G6 F?56C4FE D2=6D — 7C@> :ED 92?5=:?8 @7 :ED !C:56 r@==64E:@? :? a_ab E@ :ED 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? A@=:4:6D 27E6C !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A C6EFC?65 E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth man accused of forging military document No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Saltville readies for 55th Labor Day celebration David Hoffmann: Local news can bring communities together Proposed zoning regs for data centers head to Smyth supervisors Brandyn Hillman leads No. 25 Virginia football in blowout win over FCS Norfolk State Chilhowie to consider joining Virginia Main Street program How to watch Virginia football's Week 2 tilt vs. Norfolk State Virginia Tech's James Franklin values recruiting in Maryland Virginia Tech football rolls to win over Old Dominion Virginia Tech football fans enthused about new coach, new season Sacred ground: In his search, Barnette teaches others to care for cemeteries, grave markers Hokies post-practice report: DQ Smith expected to contribute on defense this weekend Wythe County hospital grows family and obstetric care 'Damn good' Virginia Tech hands VMI its most lopsided loss ever kAm%2C86E ;@:?65 2 3C@25 4@CA@C2E6 C6EC62E 27E6C %CF>A :DDF65 2 D6C:6D @7 6I64FE:G6 @C56CD 2:>65 2E 6=:>:?2E:?8 Q:==682= stx[Q 324<EC24<:?8 @? 677@CED E@ 3@@DE C6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 q=24< 6>A=@J66D 2?5 DFAA@CE q=24<\@H?65 DFAA=:6CD[ D2J:?8 :E ?66565 E@ DE2J :? DE6A H:E9 QE96 6G@=G:?8 6IE6C?2= =2?5D42A6]Qk^AmkAm%96 A@=:4J &\EFC? H2D H:56=J G:6H65 2D 2 36EC2J2= 3J q=24< p>6C:42?D H9@ 925 6>3C2465 E96 C6E2:= 8:2?E 2?5 7F6=65 :ED 7@CEF?6D]k^Am kAm$@>6 D9@AA6CD 6IAC6DD65 ?6H 5:D2AA@:?E>6?E :? E96 |:??62A@=:D\32D65 C6E2:=6C E96J @?46 27764E:@?2E6=J 42==65 Q%2CK92J]Q Q$@[ %2C86E[ J@F C62==J 5@?VE 92G6 2?J@?6 =67E :? |:??62A@=:D E@ D2J[ Vw6J[ E92EVD C24:DEnV *V2== 4FE stx 2?5 ?@H J@FVG6 8@E 2 >:?DEC6= 4=@H? 4@DEF>6 7@C <:5D @? J@FC H63D:E6[Q @?6 FD6C D2:5 @? %9C625D]k^Am kAm%2C86E[ H9:49 92D D66? EH@ 4@?D64FE:G6 BF2CE6CD @7 8C@HE9 F?56C ?6H rt~ |:4926= u:556=<6[ A=65865 E@ 5@ 36EE6C]k^AmkAmQ(6 <?@H E9:D :D 6DA64:2==J 9FCE7F= 7@C @FC q=24< 8F6DED[ E62> >6>36CD 2?5 A2CE?6CD[Q E96 4@>A2?J D2:5 :? E96 DE2E6>6?E] Q#6>@G:?8 E96 4@DEF>6 :D 2? :>A@CE2?E 7:CDE DE6A[ 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J :D =@@<:?8 4=@D6=J 2E 9@H E9:D 92AA6?65 2?5 H92E ?665D E@ 492?86 E@ 6?DFC6 E9:D H@?’E 92AA6? 282:?]Qk^Am kAm%2C86E 92D =:EE=6 C@@> 7@C 6CC@C[ qC6EE wFDD=6:?[ 2? 2?2=JDE 2E |@C?:?8DE2C[ E@=5 #6FE6CD] QpD %2C86E 368:?D E@ 82:? EC24E:@? :? C6A2:C:?8 :ED 3C2?5 C6AFE2E:@?[ E9:D :D 6I24E=J E96 <:?5 @7 DEF77 E96J H2?E E@ 2G@:5[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am Food & Cooking Pumpkin spice is here. A look at fall drinks from Dunkin’ and Starbucks Lori Comstock USA Today Network 0 Comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Trump pauses visa appointments for applicants worldwide His administration made legal immigration more difficult — for example, by imposing high new fees for applicants of certain work visas. Early Halloween Merchandise Arrives in Retail Stores Retail stores are stocking Halloween merchandise early, featuring seasonal home decor, apparel, pet toys and festive accessories. Watch Now: Related Video US diesel prices hit new record high as Trump seeks to blame Kyiv Sen. Mitch McConnell returns to Capitol Hill, casts first vote in months Sen. Mitch McConnell returns to Capitol Hill, casts first vote in months The interpreter giving a voice to the deaf in Abidjan The interpreter giving a voice to the deaf in Abidjan AI race with China risks 'a race to the bottom', expert warns AI race with China risks 'a race to the bottom', expert warns
Food & Cooking Pumpkin spice is here. A look at fall drinks from Dunkin’ and Starbucks Lori Comstock USA Today Network
Trump pauses visa appointments for applicants worldwide His administration made legal immigration more difficult — for example, by imposing high new fees for applicants of certain work visas.
Early Halloween Merchandise Arrives in Retail Stores Retail stores are stocking Halloween merchandise early, featuring seasonal home decor, apparel, pet toys and festive accessories.
