London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 16, 2026

No, Target didn't offer 'tuck friendly' bathing suits for kids. Here what is — and isn't — part of its Pride celebration line.

No, Target didn't offer 'tuck friendly' bathing suits for kids. Here what is — and isn't — part of its Pride celebration line.

Conservatives on social media have accused the Bullseye of marketing transgender and "satanic" products to children, but those claims don't hold up.

Target's handling of its annual LGBTQ Pride month merchandise has managed to draw outrage from both ends of the political spectrum, with progressives taking umbrage with the company's decision to pull displays and items to which conservatives objected.

But beyond the generalized right-wing critique of Target being a "woke" retailer, the most ferocious social media reaction to the company's Pride collection was over items that didn't actually exist — or at least not in the way that critics were claiming.

"Since introducing this year's collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work," a Target spokesperson said in a statement to Insider. "Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior."

Here's a closer look at what Target is — and is not — selling as part of its annual celebration of Pride month.


The "tuck-friendly" swimsuits are not for children


Arguably the most vociferous complaints about Target's product offerings are about a one-piece swimsuit and bottoms featuring "tuck-friendly" construction in the crotch. The design allows a transgender woman to wear the form-fitting swimwear without accidentally exposing their penis.

A firestorm erupted after a conservative social media influencer said the apparel was being marketed and sold to children, but an Associated Press fact check found that claim was false.

The items are "clearly labeled on Target's website as adult swimsuits," the AP said, citing Target spokesperson Kayla Castañeda. "The 'tuck-friendly' swim suits are for adults only," Castañeda told the news service.

The AP said it did find a kids' swim skirt from Target that said it was "Thoughtfully Fit on Multiple Body Types and Gender Expressions."


The "satanic" artist's designs for Target don't mention Satan


Critics were also quick to claim that three items designed by Abprallen, a studio in London, were "Satan-inspired" because the company had previously created product lines that mentioned the character, including one with the slogan "Satan Respects Pronouns."

But the Target products themselves — a messenger bag, a tote bag, and a sweatshirt — had no mention of Satan. Instead, they had the slogans "We Belong Everywhere," "Too Queer for Here," and "Cure Transphobia, Not Trans People." The items are no longer available online.


What Insider saw prominently displayed in-store


After learning that Pride displays had been taken down and moved away from the fronts of stores in Florida, Insider visited a location in Wisconsin to see what was being sold, and how it was presented.

The "tuck-friendly" swimwear was not immediately visible in the Pride section nor in the children's areas.

What was visible was signage that said things like "Take Pride" and a sizing chart that said "Fit for anyone and everyone."


Apparel featured a mixture of rainbow motif designs, while slogans said "Equality," "Be kind," "Be true to you," and "Trans people will always exist."

Three Target employees in Florida told Insider these products and other Pride merchandise are now relegated to shelves in lower-traffic areas closer to the back of their stores.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French National Assembly Overrides Senate to Pass Historic Assisted-Dying Legislation
Spanish Prime Minister's Wife Ordered to Stand Trial as Corruption Probes Encircle Governing Party
Zelensky Faces Kyiv Protests Over Ousting of Dynamic Ukrainian Defense Minister
Colombia Influencer Dies After Cosmetic Procedure at Unlicensed Bogota Salon
Thomas Tuchel Faces Fierce Backlash After Tactical Retreat Costs England World Cup Final Berth
A Quiet Bastille Day: France Grapples with World Cup Heartbreak and Leftover Fireworks
Canadian Wildfire Crisis Triggers Transnational Air Quality Alerts Ahead of Soccer Finale
UK Housing Reform Debate Intensifies Over Tenant Protection Measures
UK Defence Official Challenges Russian Narrative on NATO Readiness and European Security
UK Names Independent Member to Judicial Pension Board to Strengthen Oversight
UK Parliamentary Committee Sets New Framework for Select Committee Leadership Roles
UK Government Pushes Energy Savings Through School Solar Expansion Plan
UK Committee Reviews Future of Gaelic Broadcasting and Language Support
UK Government Expands Industrial Skills Support in Wales as Steel Sector Faces Change
UK Rejects Russian Claims That European Defence Spending Is Aggressive
UK Schools and Gaelic Broadcasting Among Areas Reviewed in New Parliamentary Inquiries
UK Housing Committee Calls for Stronger Tenant Protections Under Rental Reform Plans
UK Government Faces Pressure for Stronger Oversight After South East Water Failings Report
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Safety of Women and Girls on Public Transport
UK Defence Ministry Appoints Interim Chief Defence Medical Officer During Transition Period
UK Government Announces Five Million Pound Skills Programme for Young People in Port Talbot
UK Government Launches Solar Programme to Cut Energy Costs for Schools
Met Office Warns Extreme Weather Is Becoming More Common Across the UK
UK Government Faces Internal Debate Over New Chancellor Appointment Under Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham Set to Become UK Prime Minister After Keir Starmer’s Resignation
UK Economy Grows Slightly in May as Supply Chain Disruptions Continue to Weigh on Industry
British Steel Moves Into UK Public Ownership to Protect Domestic Steel Production and Jobs
Spain in Ecstasy: "We Feel Unbeatable, We Taught the Whole World a Lesson"
Spain and UK Dismantle Gibraltar Border Following Landmark Schengen Integration Treaty
Church of England Rejects Plan to Rewild Thirty Percent of Land by 2030
UK Parliament Examines Future of Gaelic Broadcasting in Scotland
Thames Water Faces Criticism Over Four Million Pounds in Bonus Payments
South East Water Crisis Puts UK Water Regulation Under Renewed Scrutiny
UK Report Highlights Racial Inequality in Homelessness Support Services
UK Government Defends Proposed Social Media Curfew for Teenagers Despite Criticism
Reform UK Gains Recognition as Major Political Party in New Polling
Labour Party Faces Internal Divisions Over Gaza Policy and Asylum Reform
Experts Warn UK Housing and Transport Infrastructure Is Unprepared for Rising Extreme Heat
UK Human Rights Committee Begins Review of Immigration and Asylum Bill
UK Parliament Launches Inquiry Into Declining High Streets Across England
Bank of England Governor Warns of Growing AI Risks to Global Financial Security
UK Public Finance Institutions Mobilize Fifty Billion Pounds to Support Growth and Jobs
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Long-Term Strategy Toward Russia
UK-India Trade Agreement Takes Effect With Zero-Duty Access for Nearly All Indian Exports
Forget Tinder: The Surprising Platform Where People Find Love
UK Government Faces Growing Debate Over Local Control of Immigration Enforcement
UK Biodiversity Forum Highlights Business Need to Protect Natural Environment
UK Parliament to Consider Workplace Temperature Limits Amid Climate Concerns
UK Parliament Considers Independent Immigration Appeals Authority Proposal
BBC Charter Renewal Scrutiny Intensifies as Parliament Reviews Broadcaster’s Future
×