Tabitha Brown has sparked speculation after sharing a cryptic video in the wake of Target’s announcement to scale back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The decision, which includes cutting measures supporting Black-owned businesses, has left fans questioning the vegan influenencerBrown’s partnership with the retail giant.
Tabitha Brown has a successful line of home goods and food products sold exclusively at Target. Given the company’s shift in focus away from DEI programs, which often support and uplift minority-owned businesses, many are wondering if this will impact her future with the retailer.
Her partnership with Target, which features her popular home goods and vegan food line, has been a symbol of inclusivity and representation in retail spaces. However, Target’s decision to discontinue DEI measures that once championed businesses like hers has cast doubt on the sustainability of such collaborations.
However, Target’s recent rollback of DEI programs includes discontinuing initiatives designed to elevate Black-owned businesses and products. This policy change could jeopardize partnerships like Brown’s and send a concerning message to the broader community.
Target, which runs close to 2,000 locations across the country and has a workforce exceeding 400,000 individuals, announced that it had already intended to discontinue the racial initiative this year. The company declared on Friday that it would also wrap up the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) objectives it had previously established in three-year intervals. These objectives aimed to increase the hiring and advancement of women and individuals from racial minority backgrounds, as well as to attract a larger pool of diverse suppliers, including businesses owned by people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and those with disabilities.
In a memo to staff, Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief officer for community impact and equity, referred to a “next chapter” in a long-standing effort to establish “inclusive working and guest environments that embrace everyone.”
“Many years of data, insights, listening, and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Fernandez wrote in the memo, which Target shared Friday. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”
The news has left many wondering if Tabitha Brown’s relationship with the retail giant is at risk. Some fans even suggested that she move her brand to a more supportive retailer.
