Walmart is in hot water with its June 19 themed ice cream.
The multinational retailer has announced that it will review and potentially withdraw its ice cream commemorating June 19 after the product was lambasted on Twitter.
Social media users were outraged by the dessert, which is a whirlwind of red velvet and cheesecake flavors.
On Twitter, many shoppers condemned the company for appearing to profit from the important holiday, its history and black people.
Walmart’s label on the ice cream, which has been widely shared on social media, reads: “Share and celebrate African American culture, empowerment and enduring hope.”
Comedian Roy Wood Jr.’s viral tweet about the controversial frozen treat criticized the absurdity of the June 19-themed branding. “Would you like some Juneteenth ice cream on a Juneteenth plate while sipping your beer from a Juneteenth Koozie?” he tweeted.
another user wrote, “How disrespectful and greedy. Always find a way to exploit and line their pockets. @Walmart. »
Shoppers also decried that Walmart appears to have ripped off a black-owned ice cream product called Creamalicious as customers quickly began dissecting the strong similarities between the items.
Walmart literally saw a successful small black business and thought they could get away with stealing its flavor and renaming it for Juneteenth.
Either way, Creamalicious is available at Target. pic.twitter.com/y3DyzpYtGv
— A is for Afro (@Amberisms_) May 23, 2022
In all sincerity……
If you’ve seen Walmart’s Juneteenth Ice Cream, go ahead and have Creamalicious Red Velvet Cheesecake instead! Walmart could have used this opportunity to highlight this brand instead of making a cheap copycat for OUR Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/avlIkjvoOU— ThatBoyTay (@lifeofvontay) May 23, 2022
Juneteenth honors black communities and commemorates the end of slavery in America.
Although the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves, was issued in 1863, its enforcement in Texas was minimal, meaning enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were only told they were free only on June 19, 1865.
Walmart apologized for the product in a statement.
“The June 19 holiday marks a commemoration and celebration of freedom and independence,” the company wrote in a statement to HuffPost. “However, we have received comments that a few items have caused some of our customers concern and we sincerely apologize for this. We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate.
June 19 became an official government holiday last year after President Joe Biden signed a bill creating June 19 as National Independence Day.
The decision to solidify it as a federal holiday gained traction following protests in response to the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer.
Keep reading to see more reactions on Twitter regarding the disputed product.
What makes this so bad and makes me mad is that it’s not that #Walmart is deaf, it’s like you said, they’re trying to take advantage of black people again, like we don’t already give them enough of our money.
Their blatant disrespect is infuriating!#JuneteenthIceCream https://t.co/cqGq1FgEJq— 𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓕𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓪 🏴🇲🇽 (@DFiosa) May 23, 2022
The power of social media. Walmart tried it, and after all the backlash, this shit is coming off the shelves. Let’s not whitewash this holiday. It’s not for sale. #Juneteenth ✊🏾✊🏾
— J- 🌎✨ (@MajorFactor2) May 24, 2022
Walmart can go to hell with this Juneteenth ice cream. Because it is even for whom? You are all really playing in our directed head.
— JessiP (@Mrs_JessiP) May 23, 2022
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