“They underestimated how many Black and POC would boycott them.”

Target CEO Brian Cornell pronounces that he’s stepping down from his function in February 2026. TikTokers suspect the transfer comes after backlash from Target’s rollback of its DEI applications.

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Why is Target’s CEO stepping down?

On Aug. 20, Target shares that Cornell might be stepping down following a pointy drop in gross sales for 3 consecutive quarters, Forbes experiences. The firm’s shares have fallen by over 23% for the reason that starting of the yr.

In a press launch, Target pronounces that Michael Fiddelke, its Chief Operating Officer, might be assuming Cornell’s function.

However, Cornell is not going to fully depart from the corporate. According to the press launch, the brand new CEO will transition to a task on the Board of Directors.

On TikTok, customers speculate that the drop in gross sales and Cornell’s departure could be tied again to Target’s choice to drop its variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) applications. The transfer ends Target’s initiative to incorporate extra Black and minority owned manufacturers on its cabinets.

How did TikTokers react to the information?

Following the announcement, TikTokers have a good time the potential success of their months-long boycott of Target.

“There really are more of us who care about DEI and multiculturalism and do not support this president or this administration,” one TikToker says. “Enough people were able to hold the line to put that big of a dent in Target’s sales.”

Another lady merely laughs in entrance of a screenshot asserting Cornell’s departure from Target.

@tinaray_81 #goal #ceo #foryou #viralvideo #fafo ♬ authentic sound – tinaray_81 🆘 🇺🇸

Despite the change in management, many TikTokers say they nonetheless plan to uphold the boycott.

On TikTok, a commenter explains, “Boomers will take down a multi-billion dollar corporation and lose their own job before they admit that they made a mistake. If he would’ve been like ‘my bad, let’s leave the DEI in place,’ it would’ve been done.”

Another shares, “With an economy like this, it doesn’t make good business sense to offend your biggest customers. So many companies seemed all too eager to get rid of DEI as soon as Trump got into office, that they underestimated how many Black/POC would boycott them.”

Another TikToker exclaimed, “DEI is important to me. I quit shopping there!”

Some additionally really feel it’s too late for Target, saying, “We are still boycotting,” including that “the Latino/Hispanic dollar is being spent elsewhere, babes.”

Another shares, “Didn’t care when it hurt people—only cared when they hurt their pockets. I won’t go back. It isn’t enough.”

Meanwhile, TikToker @0.1percentcoach criticizes the incoming CEO’s utilization of the phrase “swagger” when discussing how he plans to reignite gross sales subsequent yr.

@0.1percentcoach #greenscreen #goal #ceo #coo #d3list ♬ authentic sound – thed3list

“It’s a little bit awkward to use AAVE as your turnaround plan when these are some of the key demographics that you’ve rejected,” he says. “The same old stale lines and the same old stale people are not going to help you turn things around.”

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