Though several media outlets have reported that retail giant, Target, is selling “tuck-friendly” swimsuits for kids and trans kids, and there is outrage on Twitter and other social media sites, the claims are false. While Target does sell a seasonal array of clothing for the Pride month of June, the collection has been recently subject to several misleading videos and memes with many Internet users claiming the retailer is selling “tuck-friendly” bathing suits available in children's sizes.
However, according to The Associated Press, any swimsuits labeled “tuck-friendly” are only available in adult sizes, and are not available in kids’ sizes, stated Kayla Castaneda, a spokesperson for Target.
Both the colorful one-piece and black swim bottoms seen in the photos and videos online are clearly labeled on Target’s website as adult swimsuits. Both pages list the products as coming in “general adult sizing” and offer adult XS as the smallest size for sale.
Posts criticizing Target shared photos or videos of either a one-piece swimsuit with a bright pink, orange, green and blue color block pattern, or black swim bottoms with colorful line stitches. Both feature a circular tag that reads, “Tuck-Friendly Construction."
“The ‘tuck-friendly’ swimsuits are for adults only,” Castaneda said. "The kids’ swimsuits in the Pride collection are not the same design or construction and do not have the same label," Castaneda confirmed.
But the social media rumor mill keeps churning. One Twitter post reads, “Did you know @Target also sells ‘tuck-friendly’ bathing suits for children in the Pride section? Well now you do." This post received more than 4000 likes.
“Target about to become Bud Light 2.0,” tweeted Citizens Free Press, a conservative news outlet, referring to the backlash against the beer company's association with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Many of the posts criticizing Target urge consumers to boycott the company as a consequence for attempting to influence children.
Social critics often accuse corporations’ commitment to the LGBTQ community in the Pride month of June as being a shallow gesture to commodify social activism and awareness. The term rainbow capitalism has been coined to describe these actions by retailers and corporations.
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