Walmart's Juneteenth 'Celebration' Ice Cream Draws Backlash
Walmart Rolls Out Juneteenth Ice Cream ... 'Celebration' Stirs Outrage
UPDATE
10:53 AM PT -- 5/4 -- Walmart has officially pulled the ice cream.
UPDATE
7:25 AM PT -- 5/4 -- Walmart has apologized for the ice cream. In a statement to Fox LA, a Walmart rep says, "Juneteenth holiday marks a celebration of freedom and independence. However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers and we sincerely apologize. We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate."
Welp, here's the latest entry to the Tone-Deaf Marketing Hall of Fame (there really should be one by now) ... Walmart's Juneteenth Ice Cream is MOA -- melting on arrival -- with critics, as one might expect.
As soon as the retail giant started putting the "Celebration Edition" on its freezer shelves ... the Twitter mob sounded off, calling the idea "garbage," and worse. The pints contain swirled red velvet and cheesecake ice cream flavors ... and included the message, "Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope."
Yes, all positives, but also ... exploitive for capitalism's sake??? That's the tone of the backlash against Walmart ahead of the new federal holiday -- June 19th will mark the 2nd year it's recognized -- which commemorates the day the last enslaved Americans got the news President Lincoln had abolished slavery.
capitalism is awesome pic.twitter.com/QIzWBbnkSO
— mullet o'brien (@borgposting) May 23, 2022 @borgposting
Walmart is also launching a similar "celebration edition" for Pride Month, which is also coming up in June. That flavor is white chocolate ice cream with brownies and cherries.
Depending on your viewpoint ... that's either equal opportunity, or equally offensive.
Originally Published -- 5/23 10:40 AM PT
