Target Faces Criticism for Featuring Designer in Pride Collection Who Produces Satanic Imagery

Target, a leading American retailer, is at the center of a social media storm after a designer featured in its “Pride” collection was discovered to have created products featuring Satanic imagery.

Scarlett Johnson, an activist from Wisconsin, voiced her opposition to Target’s decision to feature Abprallen, a London-based designer known for combining gender-related imagery with the macabre in their designs, in the retailer’s Pride Collection.

Though none of the three apparel items being sold online under Abprallen label on Target’s website have Satanic imagery, Johnson’s criticism centered on products on Abprallen’s website and associated Instagram account, such as a “Trans Witches for Abortion” badge, a “Satan respects pronouns” T-shirt, and a rainbow-colored skeleton.

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

In a thread on Twitter that quickly went viral, Johnson called for a boycott of the store, stating she was “done” with Target.

Johnson’s criticism elicited numerous responses, both for and against the designer’s work within Target’s Pride Collection.

The Abprallen apparel being sold on Target’s website are “We Belong Everywhere” mini messenger bag, a “Too Queer for Here” tote bag, and a “Cure Transphobia, Not Trans People” sweatshirt.

All are listed under the “Pride Adult Clothing” category. The “Satan respects pronouns” shirt – mentioned by Johnson in her thread, and which features in the Abprallen designs but is not being sold on Target’s site – is described as a statement of support for the LGBT+ community and its right to gender expression.

According to the Abprallen product page, Satan is invoked as a metaphor for “passion, pride, and liberty” to represent LGBT+ people, who have often been accused of “going against God’s will.”

The page explains that Satan is used only “as a symbol,” with meaning subjectively assigned depending on the individual.

Abprallen is run by a gay trans man named Erik, who, according to the “My Story” section of the company’s website, has a fondness for combining spooky aesthetics with pastel colors.

“This has been so hard to keep quiet but I can now proudlv announce that vou can buy Abprallen in US Targets!”

“So, naturally, Satan respects pronouns. He loves all LGBTQIA+ people.”@target has some explaining to do🤷🏽‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/rbrLgdwb0O

— Scarlett Johnson (@scarlett4kids) May 21, 2023

Abprallen was approached to design a range for Pride by Target, according to the label’s Instagram page, which has about 25,000 followers.

Although Target has yet to make any public comment on the controversy, it is not the first time the company has faced criticism for its products.

In the past, Target has come under fire for its “tuck-friendly” swimwear for children.

The company’s decision to feature Abprallen in their Pride Collection has caused a stir and has once again found itself under scrutiny from the public.

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