It’s not unheard of for people to go out of their way to help others as they see fit. Sometimes it’s as simple as going into a store and buying someone a pair of shoes, a hot meal, or even a room for the evening. That’s what Arrow’s John Barrowman said he did before being chastised by employees at a Target.
Enraged, the actor took to Twitter to express his disgust and frustration at the situation. Take a look below:
. @target @targetstyle @targetdoesitagain I am disgusted by what I was told. Arrest me for trying to help someone. The stupidity behind that rule. I want an explanation. My fans and followers please message #Target regarding this. JB pic.twitter.com/pNZ3Sfy3qZ
— John Barrowman MBE (@JohnBarrowman) April 6, 2018
John Barrowman went off for about a minute in the video above. In it, he points to the West Hollywood target where he went in to purchase a gift card, coat, and shirt for a homeless man. According to him, the staff, in turn, lectured him about why his behavior was unacceptable.
He calls out target for its “stupid rule.” He points out that he as a customer shouldn’t be limited to who he’s allowed to buy a product for from their store. Then he goes on that not only would he stop shopping at Target, but he will post and encourage people to do the same.
It wasn’t long before Target responded to the Barrowman’s video.
We’re very sorry for the experience you had at the LA Target store. We absolutely do not have a policy against this type of purchase, and are addressing it immediately with the team members involved. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
— AskTarget (@AskTarget) April 6, 2018
This is where it becomes very interesting. The official Target Twitter account disputes the claim that there is a policy restricting people from purchasing items for other people no matter if they are homeless or not.
This could be either damage control or over zealous employees injecting their own opinion. But the damage was done. Other actors joined in and even retweeted to their followers John’s original Tweet.
Supernatural actor and the King of Hell Mark Sheppard aka Crowly retweeted John Barrowman.
Retweeted John Barrowman MBE (@JohnBarrowman):
. @joannagaines @magnolia did you know @target has this policy? pic.twitter.com/Dc9a5U99uP https://t.co/a4WpsAPtjx
— Mark Sheppard (@Mark_Sheppard) April 6, 2018
Fellow DC ALum David Sobolov, who plays Gorilla Grodd in the Arrowverse, had his own choice words for the retailer:
You are very kind. That’s the Target down the road from me. As angry as you are now things will change there now because it was YOU this happened to. Your social media reach is significant and will shame them into doing the right thing next time. Thank you for speaking out.
— David Sobolov (@volobos) April 6, 2018
Even though Target tried to cool the fires, the damage was done. Barrowman explained the Target employee was a security person standing near the exit by the customer service desk.
It was not the Cashier it was a target security person dressed in a red target shirt with his colleague at the exit by the customer service desk. JB
— John Barrowman MBE (@JohnBarrowman) April 6, 2018
It’s unclear whether Target will take any disciplinary action against the accused employee.
What do you think, was Target in the wrong? Let us know in the comments below!