A Satan-loving trans artist who designed items in Target’s controversial Pride 2023 collection has criticized the firm’s decision to remove his collection from many of its stores in response to anti-LGBTQ backlash, revealing that bosses haven’t gotten around in contact.
Erik Carnell, who was commissioned to create some of the Pride 2023 items along with other queer creators, claims he was not told many of his designs would be pulled from shelves or moved to the back of stores.
This action was taken after violent threats from right-wing extremists, who expressed their anger against the store which supports Pride Month and LGBTQ+ lives.
“They haven’t tried to contact me once,” Erik told PinkNews.
“As far as letting me know what I can do with my product, I have a very, very, very low priority.”
Erik Carnell (pictured), who was commissioned to create some of the Pride 2023 items along with other queer creators, claims he was not told many of his designs would be taken off shelves or moved to the back of the shops. stores.
Erik’s Target collection includes t-shirts, bags and badges, with pro-LGBTQ+ messages.
On Tuesday, Target announced it is recalling some of its merchandise celebrating Pride month after threats to employees.
“Since introducing this year’s collection, we have experienced threats that impact our team members’ sense of safety and well-being at work,” a Target spokesperson said in a statement.
“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,” the spokesperson added.
The Pride Month collection was unveiled in early May, on the heels of the Bud Light Dylan Mulvaney controversy.
Target has faced a consumer boycott over the collection, which features children’s transgender swimsuits and books called ‘Bye Bye Binary’.
In the photo; A t-shirt designed by Erik. He claims that he was not told that many of his designs would be pulled from shelves or moved to the back of stores.
Pictured: A bag designed by Erik, which reads “Too Queer for Here.” Erik’s Target collection includes t-shirts, bags and badges, with pro-LGBTQ+ messages
Target announced Tuesday that it would be removing some products from its Pride collection.
The store has been criticized for “caving in” to right-wing attacks with its decision to remove items.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that Target CEO Brian Cornell was “selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists.”
Erik, who is from the UK, said production on the collection began ‘about a year ago’ after he was approached by a distributor about creating designs for Target.
He said: “I designed a bunch of items, put together a drop, and we ended up getting a bunch of those designs made into pins, tote bags, a tank top, and a sweatshirt.”
He said it was the biggest break of his career and he was “incredibly excited” to show designs similar to those he sells on his online store.
Pictured: An item from the Target Pride 2023 collection
Pictured: A T-shirt from the Target Pride 2023 collection
Pictured: A T-shirt from the Target Pride 2023 collection
However, Erik became concerned almost immediately after the collection was released, due to the response online.
“I’ve been watching the website,” he said. “Because my stuff was being bombarded by conservatives, giving it one-star reviews, so I kept an eye on that.”
He added: “From time to time, one or two of my products would be removed from the website, or the link to my brand page… without explanation or communication.”
He said the company should have done more to anticipate anti-LGBTQ+ backlash and to protect its staff members.
“I think it was anticipated that there would be a pullback, I don’t think anyone anticipated that it would be that extreme,” he said.
He added: ‘I think with Target, it’s very much about everyone pushing themselves to do what they think is best for the next five minutes.
“I don’t think they have a plan for what they’re going to do with the rest of this collection.
They have already removed several Pride exhibits, mostly in the South, or have moved to different areas. [of the stores]instructing his employees to do it in the space of five or six hours.’
He also noted that while the decision was undoubtedly disappointing, he could see “from an objective point of view” the company’s priority to keep “employees and their finances safe.”
He said, “If I lived in a country where gun violence was as prevalent as it is in the United States and owned a corporation like Target, I might as well do what they’re doing.”
Images shared online show people attacking Pride displays inside Target stores.
However, despite Target’s response to the backlash from the right, Erik continued to support criticism from pro-LGBTQ+ activists of the decision, saying it is “totally justified” and a different approach could have been taken.
He said: ‘I think with the current political climate in America, big companies like Target absolutely need to take a very clear position on how they feel about LGBTQ+ people. Walmart also has a Pride collection, but that doesn’t seem to have gotten any negative press.
The brand has now caught the attention of Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. “Even by corporate awakening standards, Target’s partnership with a Satanist to push the trans agenda on kids is remarkable. “Next time Target comes asking for help, Republicans should reply, ‘Best of Luck,'” he tweeted.
Erik also called on those who spoke out against Target to help by supporting LGBTQ+ driven designers, as well as ensuring the safety of queer people.
He said: “Making sure that trans people, particularly trans people of colour, are cared for and taken care of, making sure that local queer clubs, bars and cafes get the funding they need, I think that’s much more important right now.” .
In a biography on Abprallen’s website, Erik said he has always been fascinated by the “scary and mystical.”
“I juxtapose it with images of skulls and creepy things, an interest of mine since I was a child. There is something magical about the unknown, the terrifying and the mystical, and that is why I so often feature these themes in my art,” he said.
In a description on her Etsy shop, she wrote: ‘Satan loves you and respects who you are. You are important and valuable in this world and you deserve to be treated with love and respect.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Satanic Temple and, to a lesser extent, the Church of Satan, how they are so often misunderstood and demonized (pun intended) and how people are often said to be LGBT+ are a product of Satan or go against God’s will.
Satanists don’t actually believe in Satan, they just use him as a symbol of passion, pride, and freedom. He means to you what you need him to mean.
“So to me, Satan is hope, compassion, equality, and love.”
The association has now caught the attention of Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.
He tweeted: “Even by woke corporate standards, Target’s partnership with a Satanist to push the trans agenda on kids is remarkable.”
“The next time Target comes asking for help, Republicans should say, ‘best of luck.'”
