Target removed a Halloween costume from its assortment and issued an apology, stating the item should never have been sold, that it was no longer available, and that the company was sorry, especially to Black customers, employees, and partners, while examining how the situation arose and how to prevent a repeat.

Viola Davis posted on social media that she would not accept the apology and did not believe the retailer understood the resulting harm or dehumanization. She said such images had underpinned atrocities against Black people and that Target had shown it was not on their side.