Bosses at leading U.S. chain Target have chosen not to stock R&B star Frank Ocean's new album Channel Orange a week after the singer revealed his first love was a man on his Tumblr.com page.
The retailers insist Ocean's big sexuality reveal had nothing to do with their decision not to sell the CD, adding they simply felt shoppers wouldn't be interested in the release, which hit the top of the iTunes download chart this week (begs09Jul12) when it was released digitally.
A spokesman for Target tells HollyScoop.com that stocking decisions are based on "a number of factors, including guest demand".
And chain officials are standing firm against criticism from gay and lesbian groups, suggesting they chose not to sell Ocean's album because of his sexuality confession.
The spokesman adds, "The claims made about Target's decision to not carry the Frank Ocean album are absolutely false. Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business.
"Target has a longstanding tradition of supporting music and artistry that reflects the diverse landscape of American culture."