Target holds 'emergency' meeting over LGBT merchandise, including 'tuck-friendly' swimsuits: report

Target is reportedly in damage-control mode and held an "emergency" company meeting to avoid a "Bud Light situation" after receiving criticism over its Pride Month displays, particularly those with items targeting children. 

Some Target stores feature massive Pride displays with items such as children's and baby clothing, kids' books and dog toys. Particularly controversial merchandise includes "tuck-friendly" bathing suits for transgender adults to hide their biological anatomy. 

Many locations, mostly those in the rural south, have relocated Pride sections to prevent backlash such as that being experienced by Bud Light after the beer company used transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a promotional campaign, according to a Target insider, Fox News Digital reported Tuesday.

"We were given 36 hours, told to take all of our Pride stuff, the entire section, and move it into a section that’s a third the size. From the front of the store to the back of the store, you can’t have anything on mannequins and no large signage," the Target insider said.

"We call our customers ‘guests,’ there is outrage on their part. This year it is just exponentially more than any other year," the insider also said. "I think given the current situation with Bud Light, the company is terrified of a Bud Light situation." 

Bud Light's sales have plunged by more than 25% since Mulvaney posted a custom Bud Light can on Instagram last month. Anheuser-Busch, which owns Bud Light, is reportedly buying back unsold cases of expired beer in response. 

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.