LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An unexpected change in store management is happening at the Drug Emporium in Little Rock.

“It just dropped my heart when I saw it,” says store customer Sondra Wright-Bailey.

Wright-Bailey says she called the store’s corporate office Thursday after seeing the photo being shared on social media.

“He decided to put the color, and that wasn’t necessary,” says Wright-Bailey.

The photo appears to show the store’s manager, a white man, dressed as an African-American woman for Halloween.

“You don’t have to paint your face,” says Wright-Bailey.

Corporate officials released a statement Thursday, saying:

“Drug Emporium would like to apologize for the conduct of our Little Rock Store Manager in his insensitive Halloween costume. In no way does the Company condone or tolerate this type of behavior and has taken immediate action to remove the Manager. Further, Drug Emporium will provide additional sensitivity training to all Store Managers.”

“I think it’s totally inappropriate,” says customer Meri Mayweather. “You don’t have to have the color of their skin. There’s other ways to do that.”

Dr. John Kirk studies history and race & ethnicity at U-A Little Rock.

“It’s a lack of understanding about the historical context in which these things happen. The historical context and the heritage of this practice is offensive by its very nature,” says Dr. Kirk.

While additional training happens at the store, Wright-Bailey says it always comes too late.

“It’s always the afterthought,” she says.

An employee at the store, who wanted to remain anonymous, says the manager did not mean any harm by it, and everything has been taken out of perspective.

Our attempts to reach the store manager have been unsuccessful.