Overview

• Target CEO Brian Cornell defended the company's decision to remove some LGBTQ Pride merchandise from store shelves, citing serious safety threats to employees and aggressive behavior at stores.
• The backlash faced in response to Pride Month displays and merchandise was described as unprecedented, with employees feeling more unsafe than during natural disasters or racial protests.
• The aggressive reactions included threats, merchandise destruction, disruption at cashier areas, and attempts to light products on fire in the stores.
• Despite the backlash that resulted in a dip in second-quarter sales, Cornell reassures that the Pride merchandise controversy is no longer causing financial impact on the company.
• In spite of criticism from human rights organizations and assertions of bowing to an anti-LGBTQ agenda, Cornell maintains the decision to remove the merchandise prioritized employees' safety.