Yesterday afternoon, the retail company Target found itself in hot water when news of their refusal to stock Frank Ocean’s ‘Channel Orange’ LP emerged on LP.
Citing his decision to release the project to iTunes one week before initially scheduled as their cause for doing so, their rumored affiliations with anti- LGBTQ organisations led many to believe this was not the case.
This, because Ocean had revealed he had been romantically involved with another man aged 19.
Now, the company has hit back at these claims by way of Billboard Biz.
Read below…
They explained:
The claims made about Target’s decision to not carry the Frank Ocean album are absolutely false. Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business. Our assortment decisions are based on a number of factors, including guest demand.
Target has a longstanding tradition of supporting music and artistry that reflects the diverse landscape of American culture. Our history of partnering with diverse artists includes recent partnerships with a variety of musicians, such as Ricky Martin, B.o.B., and Gloria Estefan.
Soon after, Ocean’s rep Christian Clancy tweeted:
I apologize for my comments about Target. They are not carrying Frank’s album because it went digital first. Not for ANY other reason. … My response was simply an emotional knee jerk reaction. … Stop. Breath.
Do the best you can. Be honest. Keep it moving.