Target holds 'emergency' meeting directing some stores to move LGBT merch to prevent 'Bud Light situation'

On Friday, Target held an "emergency" meeting with some store managers, directing them to move LGBT Pride merchandise to the back of the store to avoid a "Bud Light situation," a Target insider told Fox News Digital.

The media outlet confirmed that rural Target stores in South Carolina, Arkansas, and Georgia had relocated their Pride sections from the front of the store to the back. However, not all store locations across the country were instructed to move the merchandise.

Target has recently come under fire for selling LGBT-themed clothing for children, including "tuck-friendly" bathing suits and Pride onesies and rompers for newborn babies.

Some Pride merchandise includes a label that states, "Thoughtfully fit on multiple body types and gender expressions."

The retailer sparked calls for boycotts when it was recently revealed that it sells products from a designer who appears to support satanism, violence, and drug use.

A Target insider, who has worked for the company for nearly two decades, informed Fox News Digital that "emergency" calls were made on Friday to some managers who were instructed to relocate the store's LGBT sections immediately.

"We were given 36 hours, told to take all of our Pride stuff, the entire section, and move it into a section that's a third the size. From the front of the store to the back of the store, you can't have anything on mannequins and no large signage," the insider stated.

"We call our customers' guests,' there is outrage on their part. This year it is just exponentially more than any other year," the insider added. "I think given the current situation with Bud Light, the company is terrified of a Bud Light situation."

The Target insider explained that, during the call, management discussed "how to deal with team member safety" regarding backlash over the controversial merchandise.

"The call was super quick, it was 15 minutes. The first 10 minutes was about how to keep your team safe and not having to advocate for Target. The last five was, 'Move this to the back, take down the mannequins and remove the signage,'" the insider stated.

Store managers were told the Pride merchandise needed to be moved to boost swimwear sales, the Target insider added.

"It's all under the guise of trying to increase swim sales," the source stated. "Everyone was like, 'Thank God,' because we're all on the front lines dealing with it."

Target did not respond to a request for comment, Fox News Digital reported.

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