Report: Target says controversial shirt not meant to offend

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is getting some social media heat about the message on a controversial T-shirt it is selling, and says no offense was ever intended. According to the Associated Press, in a written statement Target said the black women’s shirt with the word “Trophy” written across the front in bold lettering is not meant to demean women.



Rather, Target said the shirt is simply part of a larger women’s collection of wedding- and engagement-themed shirts including messages such as “Team Bride.” The retailer also said response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive.



There has been a large amount of negative commentary from consumers on social media, and non-profit online petition group Change.org has received more than 11,000 signatures on a petition asking Target to stop selling the shirt.



Specialty retailer Urban Outfitters has gone through two similar recent controversies involving shirts with designs some found offensive. In September 2014, Urban Outfitters publicly apologized for selling a Kent State University sweatshirt with what appeared to be bloodstains, evoking the fatal shootings of four on-campus protestors in 1970. And in February 2015, Urban Outfitters was publicly criticized for selling shirts that resembled the uniforms Jews held in Nazi concentration camps had to wear.



In the past few weeks, a number of major retail chains stopped selling merchandise featuring the Confederate flag and also licensed apparel from Donald Trump following public outcry about the flag’s connections to slavery and racism and comments Trump made about Mexican immigrants.