Twilight star Rachelle Lefevre accuses Target of ‘trying to erase’ LGBTQ people
Twilight star Rachelle Lefevre accused Target of “trying to erase” the LGBTQ community, including her non-binary seven-year-old, after her local store moved their Pride merchandise to the back.
Lefevre, 44 — who played Victoria in the franchise’s second movie, New Moon — took to her Instagram to shout out Target, which has received massive backlash for its new line that includes “crease-friendly” swimwear.
“I just walked into Target and where you see all those fancy swimsuits, that’s where the Pride display used to be,” said the mother-of-two.
“I came in here two days ago and my seven-year-old, who is non-binary, saw it and said, ‘Look, Mom, it’s Pride, look! They’re going to celebrate me!’
Lefevre, who also starred in The White House Down, said she can no longer take her child to Target because she fears they will be angry if the collection is moved.
“So the next time my seven-year-old comes to Target — or rather, I can’t bring them here anymore, at least not for the whole month of June — because when they come in, and all the other people who walk in, and go, ‘Where did it stay?” They will realize that [critics] be successful in trying to erase them.
“We could do so much better than this,” she continued emotionally. “We’re not supposed to negotiate with the terrorists.”
Twilight star Rachelle Lefevre, 44 — who played Victoria in the franchise’s second film, New Moon — took to her Instagram to call out Target, which has received massive backlash for both selling “pleat-friendly” swimsuits and moving more the Pride collection to the back stores
“I came in here two days ago and my seven-year-old, who is non-binary, saw it and said, ‘Look, Mom, it’s Pride, look! They’re going to celebrate me!’ …So the next time my seven-year-old comes to Target — or rather, I can’t bring them here anymore, at least not all of June — because when they walk in, and all the other people who walk in, and go : “Where did it go?” They will realize that [critics] are successful in trying to erase them’
In her caption, the Canadian actress said the retail company offered “performative alliance” and played the role the critics want.
She also said that if it was a “security issue,” Target could afford to “hire additional security, but instead they chose to send the message that LGBTQ+ people are not worthy of being protected or to fight for’.
Earlier this week, Target moved the display to the back of some southern stores. Although it is not clear which store Lefevre visited.
While the collection is featured annually at the chain, this year’s display caused a stir after “crease-friendly” swimsuits caught the attention of conservatives.
It started after a series of angry moms took to Twitter and TikTok to complain. In recent weeks, the retail giant has been taunted by families for throwing transgender clothing, books and greeting cards into its stores.
Outrage and confusion ensued over a range of women’s “crease-friendly” swimsuits
It was after a series of angry moms took to Twitter and TikTok to complain. In recent weeks, the retail giant has been taunted by families – especially mothers – for throwing transgender clothing, books and greeting cards into its stores
The company was forced to release a statement saying the suits were only available in adult sizes.
“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,” said Target.
“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 Abprallen brand celebrates 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.
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.
Yesterday, several stores in Utah, Ohio and Pennsylvania received bomb threats that were sent to local news outlets.
A Layton Target – located at 810 West 2000 North – was evacuated after receiving multiple bomb threats. According to KUTV, a bomber and a K9 unit were sent to the store at around 1:00 PM.
All employees and customers were directed to the parking lot.
Stores in Layton, Salt Lake, Taylorsville and Provo were threatened, police said. Authorities became aware of the threats after local news outlets received emails threatening danger and referring to the company’s new controversial Pride collection.
Five targets in Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania were also threatened, according to Cleveland 19, which received a threatening e-mail involving stores in Stow, North Canton, Boardman, Niles, Ohio and Monaca, Pennsylvania.
Target is full [redacted] cowards who turned their backs on the LGBT community and decided to cater to homophobic right-wingers, rednecks, bigots, who protested and smashed up their shop,” the email to Cleveland 19 read. .
“We are sending you a message, we have placed a bomb in the following targets,” the email continued. “We will continue bombarding your targets until you stop cringing and return your LBGT merchandise.
“We will not be erased, we will not go quietly.”
Cleveland 19 reported the threatening email to all local police departments and the FBI.
Layton Police Sergeant John Ottesen told KUTV that the Utah threats came from a “fake email address.”