While Target (TGT) -) is known for having a fairly liberal lean, some moves the chain has made this year have left some longtime customers feeling less than sure about what it really stands for.
The biggest of these was pulling its colorful Pride merchandise collection, which it's know for stocking every year, after the Bud Light controversy around trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney drummed up a public outcry against all things LGBTQ+.
READ MORE: Target Made the Wrong Call With Pride Month. Here's Why
While Target made an announcement about the move -- saying it was designed to protect its employees' safety -- the decision left a bad taste in many people's mouths.
Now, the retailer is being discussed again for a new move that some find offensive.
On the morning of July 6, tweets surfaced saying that the retailer will not carry the right-wing author Mark Levin's new book, "The Democrat Party Hates America."
Target is reportedly purging all conservative related products from its stores. They notified Mark Levin they will not carry his new book The Democrat Party Hates America.
— The Trump Train 🚂🇺🇸 (@The_Trump_Train) July 6, 2023
Why is it okay for Target to sell pro-grooming products but not pro-America products??
Comment your… pic.twitter.com/N3y1uPXI6z
Some cried out for boycotts, while others supported the move.
Target refuses to carry Mark Levin's upcoming book.#BoycottTarget https://t.co/8YWEmAQFHC pic.twitter.com/duGUjL3JZQ
— Pete Reilly, Stochastic Deplorable 🇺🇸 (@petenet321) July 6, 2023
Other people defended Target.
I’m not sure why Mark Levin is so upset or surprised that Target is exercising it’s first amendment rights to protect it’s customers. Isn’t that the exact thing conservatives want. Refusing service by sexual orientation should be illegal. Bravo @target for dropping the microphone
— 💉♻️🇺🇸 Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) July 6, 2023
Levin on June 5 took to Twitter to confirm the news himself, saying the retailer had informed publisher Simon & Schuster it would not carry the book "because it might offend Democrats." Levin said the book would be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Books-A-Million.
Target has informed my publisher, Simon & Schuster, that it will not carry my new book when it is released on September 19. It claims that certain customers might be offended by the title. Imagine that! So, the corporatist leftwing censorship begins. I will discuss this in…
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 5, 2023
Target will not carry THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HATES AMERICA because it might offend Democrats. Pathetic. You can go to https://t.co/qUZvhEf1BI and order directly, without going through Democrat-Party corporatists. I want to thank Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Books-A- Million for… pic.twitter.com/pqzZVgGqAC
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 6, 2023
He addressed the topic a third time in a June 6 tweet, saying Target should "fear my book."
Target is certainly free to do as it wishes. And so are we. A final good riddance to woke corporatists. They should fear my book.https://t.co/QafCm5tqtr
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) July 6, 2023
But Target seems to have reversed its original decision. The company told TheStreet in a statement: "We've been offering this book for pre-sale since mid-June. As we have with Mark Levin’s past books, many of which are currently available for sale at Target, we'll offer his newest title for sale when it is available on September 19.
"The use of the word 'hate' in the title caused our team to reach out to the publisher, but as stated, we are continuing to offer this book for pre-sale now and it will be available for sale on its release date. We regret any confusion this situation caused."
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