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Target has reportedly removed a WW2-inspired costume from its online platform after it began drawing comparisons to clothes worn by Anne Frank.
Furthermore, the retail chain said it will be reviewing its internal process for vetting costumes at Target.com.
The item, made by Smiffys, a U.K. costume company, was reportedly advertised as a “WWII Girl Child Costume,” per screengrabs shared to Twitter. The item’s description also marketed it as “the perfect learning tool” for children “studying World War II or the Holocaust,” per the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).
LAST YEAR'S VIRAL HALLOWEEN COSTUMES WERE SOME OF THE WILDEST EVER SEEN
Social media users began to petition Target to remove the item from sale earlier this week, with some calling it inappropriate and at least one describing the costumes as “disgusting.” Others, however, pointed out that the item was likely modeled after clothes worn by some of the British child evacuees rather than Anne Frank, citing photos of the evacuees and the nametags near their collars.
Still, many agreed that the costumes were at least awkward, if not offensive.
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A spokesperson for Target confirmed that the items are no longer for sale online.
"We apologize to any guests who were offended by this costume. We have removed it from Target.com and are sharing this feedback with the vendor. In addition, we are taking this opportunity to review the process we have in place before a costume is available for purchase on Target.com," a spokesperson for the company confirmed in an emailed statement to Fox News.
Meanwhile, other users on social media have pointed out that Smiffys is also offering similar costumes on Amazon.com, where they are described as “World War II Evacuee Costumes.”
Representatives for Smiffys and Amazon were not immediately available to comment.
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Target, meanwhile, has made headlines for its Halloween costumes, albeit for entirely different reasons. In recent years, the company earned praise for offering inclusive costumes for children who utilize wheelchairs. And last Halloween, the outlet's "Golden Girls"-inspired costumes completely sold out upon debut.
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