Target, Walmart and Amazon have removed a controversial Halloween costume from their websites.
The costume, sold by Orion Costumes, was branded as a "German Army Soldier Adult Costume" and included a jacket, trousers with attached boot covers, a belt and a hat. Some online criticism of the costume said that it resembled those worn by German soldiers during World War II.
While listings for the costume still appear on Google when you search for the costume, the individual pages where customers can purchase the costume no longer exist.
"We expect all items sold by third-party sellers on our site to meet our policies and standards," Walmart said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Sept. 2. "When violations are detected, we take swift action, including
removal of listings, to maintain a trustworthy experience for our customers."
"The product in question was removed immediately once discovered," Amazon said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Sept. 2.
Orion Costumes and Target did not respond to a USA TODAY request for comment.
Target recently received backlash for 'offensive' Halloween costume
This comes on the heels of Target apologizing in late August for a Halloween circus clown costume that critics said appeared to conjure Blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows.
The costume, sold as the "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," prompted a social media backlash.
"As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment," Target said in a statement.
Target said it has pulled the costume that was sold as part of its seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand.
It was the latest in a series of reputational blows that have undercut sales – from its handling of its Pride Collection in 2023 to its diversity, equity and inclusion policies after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Target joined a broad corporate retreat after Trump issued a series of executive orders aimed at eliminating "illegal DEI," backtracking on efforts to boost representation of Black employees and support Black-owned suppliers, saying it needed to stay in step with "the evolving external landscape."
The policy U-turn was widely viewed as a betrayal by Black Americans who had embraced the retail giant and fueled its fortunes.
Contributing: Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Target, Walmart, Amazon pull 'German soldier' Halloween costume
