Target removing some Pride merchandise amid boycott threats

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

TARGET IS REMOVING SOME LGBTQ THEMED MERCHANDISE FROM ITS STORES AFTER CUSTOMERS THREATENED TO BOYCOTT THE COMPANY FOR MARKETING THE PRODUCTS TO CHILDREN

THIS IS A STORY GETTING COVERAGE FROM THE LEFT THE RIGHT, AND THE CENTER- AS YOU CAN SEE ON OUR MEDIA MISS TOOL

BUT IT COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER LEFT LEANING OUTLETS UNDER REPORTED A SEPARATE CONTROVERSY INVOLVING BUD LIGHT AND ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH A SELF IDENTIFIED TRANS INFLUENCER THAT SAW THE COMPANY’S VALUE DROP.. WE ARE CHOOSING TO COVER THIS STORY ABOUT TARGET SO YOU CAN GET COVERAGE ON THE STORIES THAT ONE SIDE MAY NEGLECT…

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE ITEMS.. TARGET OFFERS MORE THAN 2,000 PRIDE THEMED PRODUCTS – INCLUDING flags, GENDER QUEER MUGS AND CHILDRENS BOOKS TITLED BYE BYE BINARY – IN RECENT VIDEOS POSTED ONLINE, CUSTOMERS POINTED OUT CLOTHING SEEMINGLY AIMED AT PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT THEIR BODY TO MIMIC THE OPPOSITE SEX

[VIDEO THROWING DOWN PRIDE SIGN IN TARGET]

viedo: “WE HAVE GLAD YOU CAME OUT. I’M SO HAPPY THAT YOU’RE QUEER – IN THE KID’S SECTION. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

AP FACT CHECKERS NOTE HOWEVER THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE CLOTHING PRODUCTS IS MARKETED AT ADULTS AND *NOT CHILDREN*…

STILL, FOLLOWING REPORTEDLY VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS – TARGET SAID QUOTE SINCE INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S COLLECTION, WE’VE EXPERIENCED THREATS IMPACTING OUR TEAM MEMBERS’ SENSE OF SAFETY AND WELLBEING… “GIVEN THESE VOLATILE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE’RE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PLAN INCLUDING REMOVING ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONFRONTATIONAL BEHAVIOR”

SOME ON THE LEFT ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT TARGET BOWING TO THE BACKLASH

WHOOPI: “I AM SICK OF PEOPLE MOVING MY DESIRES BECAUSE THEIR DESIRES ARE NOT BEING MET IN SOME WAY.. THIS IS AMERICA YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BE WHOEVER YOU ARE”

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

CONSERVATIVES HOWEVER ARE UPPING THE ANTI: QUOTE IF THEY DECIDE TO SHOVE THIS GARBAGE IN OUR FACE, THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY’LL PAY A PRICE… FIRST BUD LIGHT, NOW TARGET, SAID CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST MATT WALSH

DESPITE THE RECENT EVENTS TARGET SAYS THEIR FOCUS IS ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY