Social media users didn't hold back this week, and Target listened. The retail giant yanked a Halloween costume from its shelves after a wave of criticism accused the product of leaning into racist imagery. The item in question, according to a report from The Guardian, was marketed as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume." Look closely at the ad photo and it's easy to see why people were upset. A Black child modeled the costume, wearing a bright orange and black top paired with solid black gloves and a mask featuring an exaggerated, wide, toothy grin. To many online, the combination, the child's pose included, called to mind the ugly caricatures once used to mock Black people in minstrel shows decades ago. The apology went further, directly naming who was harmed. "We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners," Target added. "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." READ MORE: Is CNN Down? Video Shows Broken Feed Amid Signal Output Issues The pressure hasn't let up since. Just last week, the American Federation of Teachers publicly pressed Target's CEO, Michael Fiddelke, to speak out against Operation Metro Surge, the National Guard deployment President Trump ordered in Minneapolis earlier this year. Taken together, the costume flap is less an isolated incident and more the latest chapter in a company still trying to find steady footing amid repeated public scrutiny. Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw... View More