India, Aug. 25 -- US retail corporation Target said that it has pulled a controversial Halloween costume off its shelves after social media users criticized it and claimed it resembled a racist caricature. The ad image for the costume, sold as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," showed a Black child in a bright orange and black top with solid black gloves and a mask with a wide, toothy smile. The child's pose and the costume's gloves and mask were compared to caricatures of Black people used in minstrel shows.

Target faced intense backlash on social media.

One X user wrote, "what the fu** is Target selling as a "halloween costume"????? im beyond disgusted".

"Damn Target! Y'all just won't let up huh. What ...