Target is facing backlash after a customer noticed an Austin location put anti-theft devices only on darker shades of foundation.
“Hey, @Target any reason you only put these anti theft devices on the darkest shades,” the woman, who identified herself as Tall-yuh reportedly tweeted.
The woman’s post attracted more than 18,000 likes and hundreds of comments this month, 7 News reported Thursday.
Although Target hasn’t responded to an Atlanta Black Star request for comment, the company said it was aware of Tall-yuh’s tweet in a response on the social media platform Thursday.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please DM us with your email address, the store location and time/date this picture was taken,” Target tweeted. “You can also contact us here https://tgt.biz/lnmhx. We would like to look further into this. Thanks.”
The post attracted both criticism and unanswered requests on Twitter for Target to publicly explain the decision in question.
“Aight but you still haven’t explained yourself,” @alexjrivas6 tweeted.
“Acknowledge that this is racist. Shouldn’t have to ask,” @eeyoreass tweeted.
“Targetting PoC while white ~respectable~ women shoplift your blind is…a look, and a choice,” @HerHandsMyHands tweeted.
Some Twitter users also offered their own explanations as to why the makeup might require special tagging.
“It’s called inventory control,” @PrestonWhite12 tweeted. “They can see where it goes. Obviously that inventory leaves the store without being purchased and need to have anti-theft devices placed on them.”
“Not racist, working in retail establishments you get IBRs(inventory build reports) based on items you continually have to order(because it’s not in stock) but don’t get sold. Some stores get placed on programs where they must tag all of these items that come in on a specific list,” @Villematic276 tweeted.
Target isn’t the only major retailer that came under fire recently for seemingly discriminatory security practices.
Residents in the majority Black city of College Park, which is just south of Atlanta, said in September “caged” aisles at the Kroger on Old National Highway left them feeling upset and racially stereotyped.
Black Walmart customers also voiced outrage after seeing only Black hair products locked behind glass at multiple Walmart stores in California.
Related: Black Woman Sues Walmart for Racial Discrimination Over ‘Segregated’ Hair Products
Essie Gundy of Perris, California, launched a discrimination suit against Walmart in the incident last January.
“I just feel that we need to be treated equal,” she told reporters. “It is no way that we should be treated … just because of a complexion. We are all human and we deserve to be treated as everyone else.”
