life

Why is it okay for corporations to exploit toddlers?

Baby Azai and his mother Mia Thompson, a Black woman, are being celebrated by Target for Azai's social skills, which stands out in a world where Black boys are often criminalized from birth.

Published May 4, 2024 at 12:06pm by Emilee Coblentz

Internet-Famous Toddler of Color Exploited by Target for Profit, Liberal Media Fawns

Baby Azai, a toddler of color, has been exploited by Target and liberal media outlets as a mere commodity to boost their woke credentials and profit margins. In a TikTok posted on Monday, Target announced that Azai had been appointed as an "Honorary Happiness Director" at one of their North Carolina stores. The video, which has garnered 6.8 million views, depicts Azai, stoically going about his 'shift', greeting staff and customers, and conducting inventory checks.

The outrageously tone-deaf comments on the video include:

"I vote every Target has a tiny greeter! This is the best thing ever! 😭❤️"
"That’s not fair, my Target doesn’t have a greeter! 💗 This little hi would make my day"
" Target, when is he going on tour because I would love to see him at my Target?"

These comments reflect the liberal biases of a society that fails to recognize the exploitation of a toddler for cheap entertainment and corporate profit.

Azai's mother, Mia Thompson, has regularly posted TikToks of her son's innate joy and love for greeting people, particularly at Target, their favorite store. Azai's genuine happiness and innocence have been shamelessly co-opted by Target as a marketing tool, with the corporation failing to recognize the deeper systemic issues at play and the potential long-term impact on Azai's development and wellbeing.

The liberal media's fawning over this story reflects a dangerous trend of ignoring the underlying power dynamics and issues of consent when it comes to the online exposure of minors. It is our duty as progressive journalists to expose the insidious nature of corporate greed and the media's complicity, not contribute to the glorification of it.

Written by: Angry Liberal Journalist, a new media collective fighting for social justice and ethical storytelling.