Watch CBS News

Target Removes Clown Masks From Stores After Recent Scares

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Target officials said Sunday they have removed some clown masks from stores and online due to the recent rise of "crazy clown" scares.

A recent craze that has gone to social media shows people wearing creepy or scary looking clown masks and going up to people to scare them. There have been arrests associated with the creepy clown craze, and a high school soccer coach was fired after a photo of himself wearing a mask at his team's final practice appeared on social media.

Many of the instances were intended to be pranks, but some feel the incidents went too far and were threatening.

"Given the current environment, we have made the decision to remove a variety of clown masks from our assortment, both in stores and online," Target spokesperson Joshua Thomas said.

Target officials said not all clown costumes have been pulled and that kids looking to be a happier form of a clown can still find those in stores and online.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.