OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
The downward spiral for Target continues as customers learn what’s happening at the company.
The retail giant recently unveiled its “Pride Collection” of female swimsuits that are “tuck-friendly” with “extra crotch coverage.”
Numerous companies, including Nike and Adidas, have seen nationwide boycotts recently after featuring biological male models wearing female clothes.
As the truth comes out, customers have learned that Target’s controversial products are the result of a partnership with U.K.-based brand Abprallen and outspoken Satanist designer Eric Carnell.
Abprallen sells merchandise with messages that publicly attack its critics, such as pins with the phrase “heteronormativity is a plague.”
On social media, company designer Eric Carnell shares his faith in Satan who he believes represents “passion, pride and liberty” and “loves all LGBT+ people.”
“Satanists don’t actually believe in Satan, he is merely used as a symbol of passion, pride, and liberty. He means to you what you need him to mean. So for me, Satan is hope, compassion, equality, and love. So, naturally, Satan respects pronouns. He loves all LGBT+ people. I went with a variation of Baphomet for this design, a deity who themself is a mixture of genders, beings, ideas, and existences. They reject binary stereotypes and expectations. Perfect.”
“I don’t believe in Satan. I don’t believe in the Bible…. It’s a metaphor,” Carnell said.
In response, many Americans and parents have spoken out about their frustration with Target partnering with such a controversial designer to sell products.
“Why did @target hire a Satanist to design pieces for their recent ‘Pride’ clothing line?” Scarlett Johnson, a Wisconsin county chair for grassroots group Moms for Liberty, said.
Why did @target hire a Satanist to design pieces for their recent "Pride" clothing line?
WTF👉🏽"Satan loves you and respects who you are… LGBTQIA+ people are so often referred to as being a product of Satan or going against God's will, so fine. We'll hang with Satan instead." pic.twitter.com/FLsNZNzHNa
— Scarlett Johnson (@scarlett4kids) May 20, 2023
More on this story via Fox News:
The Abprallen designer responded to the backlash by mocking “transphobes.”
“These have already got the transphobes infuriated with me and I feel like quite the celebrity to think that they believe this is all some big conspiracy and I have any power to brainwash anyone when I’m just some guy drawing pictures!” the artist wrote.
Abprallen is currently selling two products on Target’s website, a messenger bag that says “Too queer for here,” and a sweatshirt that says “Cure transphobia.” Neither product features Satanic imagery. However, Carnell suggested more products with Target would drop later in the Instagram announcement.
Critics compared Target to Bud Light, after the brand faced backlash for partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
The campaign account for Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote, “Bud light: shocks and insults their customers. Target: hold my beer.”
