Aug 26, 2026Business119 words1 min read

Target Apologizes and Pulls Halloween Clown Costume After Racism Backlash

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Target is a big store in the United States. It sells clothes, food, and toys.

Target made a Halloween costume for kids. The costume was a clown. Many people saw the costume online.

People said the costume looked racist. Racist means it is unfair or bad about a person's race.

This made a big backlash. A backlash is when many people get angry about something.

Target said sorry for the costume. This is called an apology. An apology means saying you are sorry.

Target took the costume off its shelves. Shelves are where stores put things to sell.

The company said it did not mean to hurt people. Target wants to fix the problem now.

Vocabulary15 words

1. What kind of costume did Target sell?

2. Why were people angry?

3. What did Target do after the backlash?

1. A clown costume 2. The costume looked racist 3. Apologized and removed the costume

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Target is a big store in the United States. It sells clothes, food, and toys.

Target made a Halloween _____ for kids. The costume was a _____. Many people saw the costume online.

People said the costume looked _____. Racist means it is unfair or bad about a person's race.

This made a big _____. A backlash is when many people get angry about something.

Target said _____ for the costume. This is called an apology. An apology means saying you are sorry.

Target took the costume off its _____. Shelves are where stores put things to sell.

The company said it did not mean to _____ people. Target wants to _____ the problem now.