Target removes items from designer who sells Satan merchandise

Target is no longer selling LGBT+ Pride products online from a fashion designer who sells Satan-inspired merchandise, but the U.K.-based fashion brand Abprallen said the company was aware of the controversial designs before they partnered together. 

Target removed three Abprallen Pride products, including a messenger bag with the phrase "We belong everywhere," a "Too queer for here" tote, and a "Cure transphobia not trans people" adult sweatshirt. However, Abprallen designer Erik Carnell, who identifies as a "gay trans man," said Target was aware of the brand's satanic work before they partnered together.

A Target insider said Tuesday that the retailer is trying to avoid a "Bud Light situation," referring to the backlash the brewer received for partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Target had received criticism for its Pride Month displays, with special concern for items directed toward children.

Abprallen came under scrutiny for selling controversial products online such as pins stating "Satan respects pronouns," "Join my gay cult" and "Sorry you're cis. Get well soon."

"When I was approached to create products for Target they told me that my work such as 'Satan Respects Pronouns' wouldn't be a good fit, they were observant enough and had the necessary critical thinking skills to realise that my use of occult imagery is as harmless as any horror movie targeted towards adults but wanted my collection for adults to be a bit less gothic," Carnell said on Instagram.

"I have no desire to sell or market my work to children. They don't have money, for one thing," Carnell also said. "I am, believe it or not, not a Satanist. ... I don't believe in Satan (not [sic] do Satanists, actually) but I do think Satan, pentagrams, skulls, ghosts, and the occult are cool and interesting."

The Target insider had told Fox News Digital that some items would be pulled from the store following outrage over Pride products. 

"Since introducing this year’s collection, we've experienced threats impacting our team members' sense of safety and wellbeing while at work. 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 insider said.

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