Satan-loving artist slams Target’s decision to remove products from Pride collection

A satan-loving trans artist who designed items in Target’s controversial 2023 Pride collection has criticized the company’s decision to remove his collection from many of its stores in response to an anti-LGBTQ backlash, revealing that bosses have not reached out.

Erik Carnell, who was commissioned to create some of the 2023 Pride items with other queer makers, claims he was not told many of his designs would be pulled from shelves or pushed to the back of stores moved.

This action was taken after violent threats from right-wing extremists, who expressed their anger at the shop that supports Pride Month and LGBTQ+ lives.

“They have not once tried to contact me,” Erik told PinkNews.

“When it comes to informing me what I can do with my product, I have a very, very, very low priority.”

Erik’s Target collection includes t-shirts, bags and badges, with professional LGBTQ+ messages.

On Tuesday, Target announced it was withdrawing some of its merchandise celebrating Pride month after threats to employees.

“Since the introduction of this year’s collection, we have faced threats that affect our team members’ sense of safety and well-being at work,” a Target spokesperson said in a statement.

“Given these volatile conditions, we are adjusting our plans, including removing items that were central to the most significant confrontation behavior,” the spokesperson added.

The Pride Month Collection was unveiled in early May, just after the Bud Light Dylan Mulvaney controversy.

Target has faced a consumer boycott over its collection, which includes children’s transgender swimsuits and books called “Bye Bye Binary.”

Pictured: a t-shirt designed by Erik. He claims he was not told many of his designs would be taken off the shelves or moved to the back of stores

In the photo: a bag designed by Erik, with the text ‘Too Queer for Here’. Erik’s Target collection includes t-shirts, bags and badges, with professional LGBTQ+ messages

Target announced Tuesday that it is pulling some merchandise from its Pride collection. Abprallen’s items are not currently available on the Target website

The store has been criticized for “giving in” to right-wing attacks with its decision to remove items.

In a tweet on Wednesday, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom stated that Target CEO Brian Cornell was “selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists.”

Erik, who is from the UK, said production of the collection started “about a year ago” after a distributor contacted him to create designs for Target.

He said, “I designed a bunch of items, put together a pitch, and eventually we got a handful of those designs made into pins and bags and tank tops and a sweatshirt.”

He said it was the biggest opportunity of his career and that he was “incredibly excited” to show designs similar to those he sells on his online store.

Pictured: An item from the Target Pride collection for 2023. The Pride Month collection was unveiled in early May

Pictured: A t-shirt from the 2023 Target Pride Collection. Target is facing a consumer boycott over its controversial collection

Pictured: A t-shirt from the 2023 Target Pride collection. Target has been criticized for ‘giving in’ to right-wing attacks with its decision to remove items

Almost immediately after the launch of the collection, however, Erik was concerned by the online response.

“I’ve been watching the website,” he said. “Because my material was bombarded by conservatives, giving it one-star reviews, and so I kept an eye on that.”

He added, “Occasionally one or two of my products would be removed from the website, or the link to my brand page… without explanation or communication.”

He said the company should have done more to anticipate the anti-LGBTQ+ backlash and protect its employees.

“I think pushing back was expected, I don’t think anybody expected it to be this extreme,” he said.

He added, “I think what’s really bad at Target is everyone trying to do what they think is best for the next five minutes.

“I don’t think they have a plan for what they’re going to do with the rest of this collection.

“They’ve already torn down some Pride displays, especially in the south, or moved to other areas [of the stores]instructing their employees to do this in a time frame of five or six hours.’

He also noted that while the decision was undoubtedly disappointing, he could see “from an objective standpoint” the company’s priority to “keep employees safe and keep their finances safe.”

He said, “If I lived in a country where gun violence was as rife as it is in America and I owned a company like Target, maybe I’d do what they do.”

Footage shared online shows people attacking Pride displays in Target stores.

However, despite Target’s response to the right-wing backlash, Erik continued to support pro-LGBTQ+ activists’ criticism of the decision, saying it is “fully justified” and that a different approach could have been taken.

He said: “I think with the current political climate in America, big companies like Target absolutely need to take a very clear stance on how they feel about LGBTQ+ people. Walmart also has a Pride collection, but it doesn’t seem to get any negative press.’

The brand has now caught the attention of Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas. “Even by the standards of awakened companies, Target’s partnership with a satanist to push the trans agenda on kids is remarkable. Next time Target comes begging for help, Republicans should reply: “good luck,” he tweeted

Erik also called on those speaking out against Target to help by supporting LGBTQ+ community-driven designers and ensuring the safety of queer people.

He said: “Making sure that transgender people, especially transgender people of color, are cared for and taken care of, making sure local queer clubs, bars and cafes get the funding they need, I think that’s much more important right now.”

In a bio on Abprallen’s website, Erik said he’s always been fascinated by the “frightening and mystical.”

“I juxtapose it with images of skulls and spooky things — an interest of mine since I was a kid. There is something magical about the unknown, the frightening and the mystical, which is why I show these themes so often in my art,” he said.

In a description on his Etsy store, he wrote, “Satan loves you and respects who you are. You are important and valuable in this world and you deserve to treat yourself with love and respect.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about The Satanic Temple, and to a lesser extent The Church of Satan, how they are so often misunderstood and demonized (pun not intended) and how LGBT+ people are so often referred to as being a product of Satan or going against God’s will.

Satanists don’t really believe in Satan, he’s just used as a symbol of passion, pride and freedom. He means to you what you want him to mean.

“So to me, Satan is hope, compassion, equality, and love.”

The collaboration has now caught the attention of Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.

He tweeted, “Even by the standards of awakened corporations, Target’s partnership with a satanist to push the trans agenda on kids is remarkable.

“Next time Target comes begging for help, Republicans should say, ‘Good luck.'”