Reese said he was inspired to create the images following false reports that Target was selling satanic-themed children’s clothes as part of its Pride collection. “They’re Targeting Our Children,” Reese wrote in the post, which is found on AI Art Universe, a Facebook group for showcasing AI-generated art. His Facebook post from May 26 includes the red goat mannequin and other images being widely shared, as well as about a dozen others of children or mannequins dressed in apparel featuring devils, pentagrams and similar imagery. They were made using a sophisticated image-generating program.ĭan Reese, a software developer in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, confirmed in Facebook messages to The Associated Press on Thursday that he created the images over two days last week using a generative AI program developed by Midjourney, a San Francisco-based independent research lab.

“They aren’t even hiding it anymore,” wrote another Facebook user sharing the post along with the hashtags #BoycottTarget and #SaveTheChildren.īut the photos aren’t real. “Selling satanic symbols on children’s apparel?” did you KNOW THIS about them?” wrote a Facebook user who shared the image this week. Another image shows two other children wearing red sweaters, each featuring a white goat’s head with eyes made to resemble Target’s familiar red and white bullseye logo. The collage includes a blood red, goat-headed mannequin and a young girl wearing a black shirt with a pentagram.

THE FACTS: Amid attacks on the beleaguered retail giant over its LGBTQ+ merchandise for Pride month, social media users are circulating a set of synthetic images to claim Target is also selling a new line of children’s clothes featuring satanic imagery. Target also confirmed it has never sold the merchandise. The images were generated with an artificial intelligence text-to-image tool, according to the artist who created them. CLAIM: Photos of a goat-headed store mannequin and a girl wearing a black shirt with a pentagram design show Target is selling a line of satanic-themed children’s clothing.ĪP’S ASSESSMENT: False.

Download the true of love