Spotlight Target apologizes for 'offensive' Halloween costume after backlash Jessica Guynn USA Today Aug 25, 2026 Aug 25, 2026 Updated 14 hrs ago 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… Is Iowa losing its religion? Church closures mount in rural communities Denison woman dies, Lincoln driver seriously injured in western Iowa crash One TV weather team – two devastating diagnoses Will winter be snowy, stormy or mild? Farmers' Almanac forecast by region AJ Pritchard wins over Shirley Ballas on ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’ Iowa State lineman explains woodworking hobby, custom locker Nebraska lights up ‘Lanterns,’ a new TV Western After two years of learning, Jenna Meitzler is ready to lead Iowa volleyball’s offense 5 fast facts on new Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers Mafia link feared in Sicilian grand master theft Climate change reshaping daily life in Europe’s hottest town As Europe bakes, momentum grows for climate-resilient farming Iowa State's Killyan Toure has surgery, out until January Area’s first 7 Brew coffee shop officially opens Monday in Cedar Falls St. Luke’s patient accused of destroying $50,000 worth of computer systems Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%2C86E ;@:?65 2 3C@25 4@CA@C2E6 C6EC62E 27E6C %CF>A :DDF65 2 D6C:6D @7 6I64FE:G6 @C56CD 2:>65 2E 6=:>:?2E:?8 Q:==682= stx[Q 324<EC24<:?8 @? 677@CED E@ 3@@DE C6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 q=24< 6>A=@J66D 2?5 DFAA@CE q=24<\@H?65 DFAA=:6CD[ D2J:?8 :E ?66565 E@ DE2J :? DE6A H:E9 QE96 6G@=G:?8 6IE6C?2= =2?5D42A6]Qk^AmkAm%96 A@=:4J &\EFC? H2D H:56=J G:6H65 2D 2 36EC2J2= 3J q=24< p>6C:42?D H9@ 925 6>3C2465 E96 C6E2:= 8:2?E 2?5 7F6=65 :ED 7@CEF?6D]k^Am kAm$@>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 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. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video USS Abraham Lincoln to Dock in Thailand After Record Deployment and Mental Health Concerns Trump Threatens To Double Tariffs On Canadian Vehicles Trump Threatens To Double Tariffs On Canadian Vehicles What happens after Lindsay Clancy's trial ends? USA TODAY explains. What happens after Lindsay Clancy's trial ends? USA TODAY explains. Transgender athlete debate draws dueling protests outside Fever-Liberty game Transgender athlete debate draws dueling protests outside Fever-Liberty game
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.
