Target trying to avoid being Bud Lighted. They stepped in it. Selling tuck-friendly underwear for KIDS?
Target holds 'emergency' meeting over LGBTQ merchandise in some stores to avoid ‘Bud Light situation’
Some southern locations move Pride displays, apparel away from storefronts
A Target insider said there were "emergency" calls on Friday and that some managers and district senior directors were told to tamp down the Pride sections immediately.
"We were given 36 hours, told to take all of our Pride stuff, the entire section, and move it into a section that’s a third the size. From the front of the store to the back of the store, you can’t have anything on mannequins and no large signage," the Target insider said.
The insider, who has worked at the retailer for almost two decades, said Target rarely makes such hasty decisions.
"The call was super quick, it was 15 minutes. The first 10 minutes was about how to keep your team safe and not having to advocate for Target. The last five was, ‘Move this to the back, take down the mannequins and remove the signage,’" the insider said, noting that bathing suits have replaced Pride merchandise in front-of-store displays despite Pride month not even starting until June 1.
"It’s all under the guise of trying to increase swim sales," the insider said. "Everyone was like, ‘Thank God,’ because we’re all on the front lines dealing with it."