Target Corp. (TGT) is the most recent company to be dragged into the supposed "woke war," currently rampaging across social media. Against the backdrop of a trans-friendly Bud Light promotion and Disney's ongoing battle with right-wing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the recent rally against Target's selection of LGBTQ+ merchandise could have the company worried.
But the CEO of Target, Brian Cornell, isn't concerned. In a recent appearance on Fortune's "Leadership\Next" podcast, Cornell essentially said that the company's attitude toward diversity and inclusion is just good business.
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"When we think about purpose at Target, it's really about helping all the families, and that 'all' word is really important," Cornell said. "Most of America shops at Target, so we want to do the right thing to support families across the country."
"I think those are just good business decisions, and it's the right thing for society, and it's the great thing for our brand," Cornell said.
Whether it's the company's all-ages Pride gear or internal support for LGBTQ+ employees, Cornell said that these choices pay off for the company.
"It's helping us drive sales, it's building greater engagement with both our teams and our guests, and those are just the right things for our business today," Cornell said.
Recent posts on social media have criticized Target's exceptionally-inclusive line of LGBTQ+ clothing. The uproar mainly focuses on kids' clothes or swimsuits and undergarments designed for transgender customers -- and while a few thousand have blasted #BoycottTarget across the internet, Cornell may be right to save his worries for another day.
