Target withdraws Pride products due to Bud Light boycott
Target has pulled some of the most controversial items from its Pride collection in the face of a “Bud Light” boycott, but is doubling down on its commitment to LGBTQ causes, blaming “fleeting” complaints for its decision.
In recent weeks, the retail giant has been taunted by families – especially mothers – for pushing transgender clothing, books and greeting cards into its stores.
Yesterday, amid outrage and confusion over a range of “pleat-friendly” women’s swimsuits, the company released a statement to insist that the suits were only available in adult sizes.
Amid growing anger over the displays and concerns about some of the designers in the spotlight, the company began receiving “emergency calls” to avoid a backlash as ravenous as the one Bud Light faced for its partnership with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney.
Target announced last night that it was pulling some of the most incendiary merchandise from its Pride collection
One of the most controversial items was this adult swimsuit, in the women’s section, with ‘tuck-in-friendly’ labels in stores. It is still sold online
Other items include children’s swim skirts made for “all genders” and other swim tops
Finally, in a statement last night, Target said it pulled some of the items that were “at the center of the most confrontational behavior.”
“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,” Target 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,” said crisis communications manager Kayla Castaneda.
The company did not specify which items were pulled from its shelves. Many of the bathing suits, rompers and t-shirts that sparked outrage remain available online.
There is also growing outrage over the collaboration with Eric Cullen, a British transgender man, whose brand Abprallen encourages satanism.
Target sells two items from the brand: a $25 slogan jumper with the words “cure transphobia not trans people” wrapped around a sword, an $18 “too queer for here” tote bag, and a “we belong everywhere” bum bag which is now sold out.
Eric – a transgender man – proudly shared photos of the collaboration on Instagram.
“These have already enraged the transphobes at me and I feel like a real celebrity for thinking that they believe this is all one big conspiracy and that I have the power to brainwash anyone if I’m just a guy drawing pictures! ‘ he said.
A closer look at his other work reveals more sinister material.
Eric Carnell is the British designer behind Abprallen, an LGBTQ brand that sells t-shirts, sweaters, bags and badges
Target is selling two items from the brand: a $25 slogan jumper with the words “cure transphobia not trans people” wrapped around a sword
An $18 “too queer for here” tote bag is also available for purchase through Target’s website and in stores
Other items for sale in the Abpralle Etsy shop are sinister. Stickers and badges that denigrate “cis feelings” – the feelings of non-trans people – and Fox News is one of them
There are badges for sale on Abprallen’s site, including one with the slogan “young, bisexual and willing”
A description on Abprallen’s Etsy shop describes the designer’s interpretation of Satan
These include badges with slogans such as ‘Satan Respects Pronouns’, ‘Young, Queer and Willing’ and a lighter pin with the words ‘burn down the cis-tem’.
He also models the “Satan respects pronouns” T-shirt on an Instagram page while wearing BDSM style horns and no pants.
In a bio on the brand’s website, he says he has 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 says.
In a description on his Etsy store, he continues, “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.
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
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.
Books like ‘Goodbye, bye, binary – no one puts baby in a pink or blue corner!’ are also sold
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 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.
Cullen has yet to respond to the criticism
Last night Fox’s Tomi Lahren warned that Target was headed for a major boycott.
“I think Target will soon find out what happens when conservatives shop or rather don’t shop because they’re about to get Bud Light-ed.
“They moved it because they know full well, because we set the precedent with Bud Light, that consumers are conservative, especially in places like the South, and we buy things and we have the power not to buy things. So, Target beware.
“I know you allow a small minority of the population to walk underfoot, but not here in Tennessee, and hopefully not in any city or state near you.”