American Greetings and Target apologized Wednesday for selling Baby Daddy cards for Fathers Day that featured a black couple on the front.
According to USA Today, customers called the card racially insensitive, which led to Target pulling the Fathers Day card from its shelves.
The inside of the card read, "You're a wonderful husband and father and I'm so grateful to have you as my partner, my friend, and my baby daddy! Happy Father's Day."
American Greetings apologized in a statement sent to The Huffington Post.
"This particular card was created for, and addressed to, a loving husband which the inside copy makes clear," American Greetings said in a statement. "However, we now see that the front page, taken out of context, can communicate an unintentional meaning that we are strongly against perpetuating and is not consistent with our company purpose and values. We should do better in the future, and we will. We have notified our store merchandisers to remove the card from the shelves and apologize for any offense weve caused."
Target pulled the card from about 900 stores after it received several complaints on social media, according to Fox News.
"We want all guests to feel welcomed and respected when they shop at Target," Target spokesman Joshua Thomas said in a statement, according to Fox News. "We were made aware of some concerns about this card last week and are working with our vendor to have it removed from Target stores. We appreciate the feedback and apologize. Its never our intent to offend any of our guests with the products we sell."
Takeisha Saunders was one of the first customers to complain about the card in a social media post.
She said the phrase baby daddy was not sweet or nice.
"Its a term used to describe a deadbeat or absent parent. Yeah its sweet on the inside but whomever created this card doesnt know what it means, she wrote.
Saunders told BuzzFeed News she was surprised and disappointed by the card.
"It was the only card that featured a black couple," Saunders said. "My husband is not my baby daddy. I think many people who use the term are not aware of its actual definition so they said I was being overly sensitive and to get over it."
Saunders told Fox News she hopes to shed light on why the cards are offensive to so many people.
I understand Target did not make the cards, Saunders said. By posting my comment, I hoped to shed some light on why I was upset about it. I would hope that (American Greetings) and Targets purchasers would become more aware of the items on their shelves and how they may not have the desired impact on the targeted demographic consumers, she said.
According to USA Today, customers called the card racially insensitive, which led to Target pulling the Fathers Day card from its shelves.
The inside of the card read, "You're a wonderful husband and father and I'm so grateful to have you as my partner, my friend, and my baby daddy! Happy Father's Day."
American Greetings apologized in a statement sent to The Huffington Post.
"This particular card was created for, and addressed to, a loving husband which the inside copy makes clear," American Greetings said in a statement. "However, we now see that the front page, taken out of context, can communicate an unintentional meaning that we are strongly against perpetuating and is not consistent with our company purpose and values. We should do better in the future, and we will. We have notified our store merchandisers to remove the card from the shelves and apologize for any offense weve caused."
Target pulled the card from about 900 stores after it received several complaints on social media, according to Fox News.
"We want all guests to feel welcomed and respected when they shop at Target," Target spokesman Joshua Thomas said in a statement, according to Fox News. "We were made aware of some concerns about this card last week and are working with our vendor to have it removed from Target stores. We appreciate the feedback and apologize. Its never our intent to offend any of our guests with the products we sell."
Takeisha Saunders was one of the first customers to complain about the card in a social media post.
She said the phrase baby daddy was not sweet or nice.
"Its a term used to describe a deadbeat or absent parent. Yeah its sweet on the inside but whomever created this card doesnt know what it means, she wrote.
Saunders told BuzzFeed News she was surprised and disappointed by the card.
"It was the only card that featured a black couple," Saunders said. "My husband is not my baby daddy. I think many people who use the term are not aware of its actual definition so they said I was being overly sensitive and to get over it."
Saunders told Fox News she hopes to shed light on why the cards are offensive to so many people.
I understand Target did not make the cards, Saunders said. By posting my comment, I hoped to shed some light on why I was upset about it. I would hope that (American Greetings) and Targets purchasers would become more aware of the items on their shelves and how they may not have the desired impact on the targeted demographic consumers, she said.
