Amid a recent controversy surrounding retail giant Target’s Pride collection, transgender designer Erik Carnell has experienced a significant surge in demand for his unique pins, prints, stickers, and T-shirts. Target faced a backlash from some customers, leading them to withdraw certain products, including those from Carnell’s brand Abprallen. The sudden increase in orders has been so overwhelming that Carnell has temporarily halted new orders, expressing his gratitude to supporters during this challenging period.
Target’s Pride collection boasted over 2,000 products ranging from clothing and music to home furnishings. While the company is currently reviewing several items, the only ones to have been removed from their website and physical stores thus far are those affiliated with Carnell’s Abprallen. The decision was made after instances of confrontations between customers and employees escalated, with incidents of Pride merchandise being disdainfully thrown on the floor.
Evident through screenshots and social media posts, Target had previously offered three Abprallen items: a $25 slogan sweater advocating to “cure transphobia not trans people,” an $18 “too queer for here” tote bag, and a “we belong everywhere” fanny pack. In response to the controversy, Carnell, a London-based gay transgender man, expressed uncertainty regarding Target’s future sale of his items, assuring his followers that more information would be provided in the days to come.
Carnell, who identifies as a proud member of the LGBTQ community, took to Instagram to address concerns about his association with Satan worship. Some individuals, mistakenly associating his brand’s products featuring pentagrams and horned ram skulls with Satanic references, had labeled him as a “Satan-loving” individual. Carnell vehemently denied these claims, asserting that such interpretations were far from his personal beliefs.
As the conversation surrounding Target’s controversy and support for LGBTQ-owned businesses continues to unfold, Carnell remains hopeful that Target’s retail employees will not face further threats or harm. The growing demand for Abprallen’s distinctive accessories highlights the resilience and determination of the LGBTQ community, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and inclusivity.
Through this tumultuous period, Carnell’s story serves as a testament to the power of support and acceptance, as individuals from various backgrounds unite to champion LGBTQ rights and foster a more inclusive society.