Walmart Customers Slam Retailer Over Juneteenth Ice Cream, ‘No One Asked For This’
Walmart (WMT) has come under fire for an ice cream flavor that has been circulating on social media that is meant to celebrate the upcoming Juneteenth holiday.
Juneteenth marks the end of slavery for Black Americans and has been made a federal holiday. In 2022, it will be observed on Monday, June 20.
But some on social media are calling the release of the celebration edition ice cream by Walmart racist and exploitative, as they accuse the retail giant of capitalizing off the painful history of slavery.
Send the @Walmart execs to me. For numerous reasons, commercializing and exploiting Juneteenth in this way is racist and otherwise extremely problematic. #Walmart #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/krdmEiW6QW
— Shaun R. Harper (@DrShaunHarper) May 22, 2022
The ice cream, sold under Walmart’s Great Value brand, is a swirled red velvet and cheesecake flavor that is packaged in a carton that has an image of two Black hands with a yellow, green, red, and black background.
A message on the carton reads, “share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation, and enduring hope.” A trademark symbol is enclosed by the Juneteenth name.
But consumers weren’t impressed with the presentation or the product from Walmart, calling out the retailer for even thinking of offering the Juneteenth ice cream.
One user on Twitter said, “no one asked for this @Walmart,” while another said the retail chain could “do better.”
No one asked for this @Walmart __ ♀️#juneteenth pic.twitter.com/f1nzFXLsG8
— Taneshia Nash Laird is vaxxed, boosted & masked (@taneshia) May 22, 2022
It’s important to have #diverse voices at the table when making strategic business decisions. When you don’t, you end up making costly, foolish mistakes like @Walmart’s Great Value #Juneteenth Ice Cream. I am so done. _ #DoBetter #Walmart #ProfitingOffOfPain pic.twitter.com/sPGSOm7PSg
— Jen Littlejohn (She/Her) (@oliviamasseypr) May 22, 2022
Others on the social media platform criticized Walmart for comparing Juneteenth to a flavor of ice cream.
This another reason why I don’t shop at WALMART… Juneteenth ain’t a flavor, or is y’all saying because we all different shades we considered a flavor? Cause I ain’t never seen tequila ice cream for cinco de Mayo or casserole flavored ice cream for 4th of July. https://t.co/bu8KoxyUte
— Leyy (@Prettyyy__Leyyy) May 22, 2022
_ We said REPARATIONS…not Red Velvet _ @Walmart #GreatValue #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/jZ3z7IyOqQ
— xyvesaintlaurenx (@yvesaintlaurenx) May 22, 2022
And another suggested buying ice cream from Black-owned companies for Juneteenth instead.
Instead of getting that Juneteenth ice cream from Walmart get this instead!! Black owned and it’s good ☺️ pic.twitter.com/x4HJyN7n2h
— ___ (@sunny_dlite_) May 22, 2022
As of Monday at 1:34 p.m. ET, shares of Walmart were trading at $122.81, up $3.61, or 3.03%.
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