Target Faces New Controversy Over Halloween Costume After Previous Apology

Target, alongside Walmart and Amazon, has removed a "German Army Soldier Adult Costume" from its websites after the item drew criticism for resembling Nazi uniforms. The costume, originally sold by Orion Costumes, features a vintage-style jacket and trousers that evoke WWII-era German military attire.

While the costume is no longer available on the retailers' sites, archived product listings indicate it was sold for approximately $49.99. The description references the 1940s, the period when Nazi Germany was in power, though it does not explicitly mention Nazis.

This incident follows closely behind a previous controversy involving Target. Just weeks earlier, the retailer pulled a children's clown costume after it was criticized for resembling imagery associated with racist blackface minstrelsy from the Jim Crow era.

Target had issued an apology for the earlier costume, stating the company had made a mistake and was reviewing its processes to prevent future occurrences. The current removal, in conjunction with other major retailers, highlights ongoing challenges in curating Halloween merchandise.