Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Goal introduced plans to shut shops in crimson states and relocate to blue states solely.
The idea of crimson states refers to people who, by majority, backed Republican Occasion nominee and President-elect Donald Trump, whereas blue states are those who principally voted for Democratic Occasion nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
A rumor that Goal introduced plans to shut shops in crimson U.S. states and relocate to blue states solely circulated on-line following the 2024 presidential election. The idea of crimson states refers to people who, by majority, backed Republican Occasion nominee and President-elect Donald Trump, whereas blue states are those who principally voted for Democratic Occasion nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris.
An instance of the declare appeared on Fb, the place one web page wrote (archived): “WOKE Goal to Shut Shops in Crimson States and Relocate to Blue States Solely, ‘Sticking To Areas The place We Really feel Secure.’“ Quite a few other Fb users additionally shared the same textual content on the platform.
In the meantime, on X, some customers posted the rumor with a hyperlink to an article on esspots.com. That article displayed the identical textual content as a headline: “WOKE Goal to Shut Shops in Crimson States and Relocate to Blue States Solely, ‘Sticking To Areas The place We Really feel Secure.'”
Some social media customers appeared to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life occasions. For instance, Fb customers stated in feedback: “They need to relocate all shops to California,“ and “They are going to remorse it later.“ One other consumer stated: “I am glad I noticed this. Was planning to go to Goal just for comfort sake. Guess I will be headed some place else. Bye bye.“
Nevertheless, there was no proof of the retailer closing any shops for political causes.
Relatively, whereas the above-mentioned social media posts didn’t make it clear, the rumor about Goal originated with the SpaceXMania network of parody and satire websites.
For instance, on Nov. 11, the SpaceX Fanclub Fb web page — an account related to each SpaceXMania and esspots.com — posted (archived) a meme exhibiting a Goal retailer and a map picture of Trump’s county wins within the 2024 election. The put up included a satire disclaimer, and the bio for the Fb web page read: “We put up SATIRE, nothing on this web page is actual.“
Related posts appeared on different Fb pages affiliated with SpaceXMania, reminiscent of The Patriots Lovers and We Are Patriots. Customers managing these pages, which even have labels notifying readers of the satirical nature of their content material, used another caption: “Goal Says Goodbye to Crimson States, Plans ‘Inclusive’ Blue State Growth.“
Snopes has addressed comparable satirical claims following the 2024 election, together with fictional tales about Beyoncé and Taylor Swift asserting boycotts of states the place nearly all of voters picked Trump.
For background, right here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that decision their output humorous or satirical.
