Who is the designer behind Target Halloween costume?

Target apologized on Monday and said it had pulled a Halloween costume from sale depicting a circus clown that critics said evoked Blackface and minstrel shows.

The product, sold as the "Kids' Glows Under ‌Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume," prompted a backlash on social media, with some consumers saying it resembled a racist caricature.

"As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry," Target said in a statement. "The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale."

Target declined to comment on who designed the product - which was sold under the retailer's seasonal Hyde and EEK Boutique brand - or the process by which it was green-lit for sale.

In its statement, Target said it was "looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change."

Meanwhile, social media users have criticized Target, calling on the company to take action against anyone responsible for the costume.

One user wrote, "This was Hyde and Eek brand, which is a Target owned brand meaning Spot has full control of this item through all of the steps you laid out."

A second wrote, "There had to have been drafts, reviews, mark ups, approvals etc… and no one raises their hand and says 'wait a minute…'"

“They contract with companies to make stuff for them. So this presumably would’ve been their own product design," said a third user.