Walmart to remove Juneteenth-themed ice cream amid social media outrage

ByMaddii
Walmart

Walmart removed its ice cream tub-themed June 16 amid growing user backlash on social media.

The department store included the ice cream along with new merchandise and other party decorations to commemorate the day.

However, customers were not impressed with Walmart’s new display. They criticized the store for taking advantage of a black holiday. Also, Walmart was called out for trademarking the phrase ‘Juneteenth’, which is one of the integral parts of black history.

Walmart’s Juneteenth ice cream was criticized on social media platforms

Walmart recently released a Juneteenth-themed ice cream. It was packaged in green, red, yellow, and brown, which are the official colors of Black History Month. The product also included a version of the logo of the day in the tub.

The ice cream consisted of swirls of red velvet and cheesecake flavors.

The label on the tub of ice cream read: ‘Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope.’

Journalist Chris Lovingood shared his thoughts on Twitter. He asked about the status of the trademark and further questioned how the brand’s new merchandise will help the black community.

Lovingood mentioned in one of her tweets that there were around 32 registered trademarks for the word ‘Juneteenth’.

Many social media users asked Walmart what their true intention was in introducing the product. They believe that it is one of the ways the store can make a profit.

One of the users took to Twitter to criticize the company. She wrote: ‘Capitalism is a retail conglomerate, owned by a white billionaire family, marketing and ice cream to celebrate a holiday commemorating the emancipation of slaves in a country that was literally built on the backs of slaves. See Walmart ice cream.

Walmart pulled the ice cream from its shelves and issued an apology.

Walmart told Fox, “We received feedback that some items caused some of our customers concern and we sincerely apologize.” We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate.’

What is Juneteenth?

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery. He freed more than three million enslaved people in the Confederacy.

It took two more years for the situation to change for the enslaved black community in Galveston, Texas.

Juneteenth commemorates the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 to bring news of the slaves’ liberation.

President Joe Biden announced that the day would be observed as a federal holiday last year.

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