After facing backlash on social media, Walmart decided to remove its Juneteenth ice cream from shelves.
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Over the weekend, images of the Juneteenth-themed ice cream and party decorations surfaced on social media where users questioned why Walmart used the holiday as an opportunity to profit off the black community. On the ice cream packaging, Walmart’s Great Value brand says tells customers to “Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation, and enduring hope.” The ice cream flavor was listed as red velvet with cheesecake.
“[The]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,” Walmart said in a statement to FOX News.
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Juneteenth became a federal holiday last June after President Joe Biden signed a bill. The holiday was celebrated in Galveston, Texas every June 19 to commemorate the remaining slaves who were informed by Union troops that they were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865.
Nobody asked for some Juneteenth ice cream. Not one person.
— Los PopaVitch (@KarlousM) May 24, 2022
Can you imagine a company creating an ice cream flavor commemorating the end of the Holocaust? Companies should really think through how they recognize #Juneteenth.
This is why it’s important to hire diverse perspectives.
— Denise Adusei 🇧🇷🇨🇻 (@DeniseLit4Kids) May 23, 2022
We said we want the reparations we are owed. They gave us Representatives kneeling in Kente cloth, ice cream and party decorations.#Juneteenth
— Dr. Openly Excessively Black & Disabled (She/Her) (@4WheelWorkOut)
Funny how they “gave” us a holiday we were already celebrating ourselves. Now they’re commercializing it to profit off of it. This nation is so good at profiting off of us, but can’t give us the reparations they owe. Juneteenth ice cream my ass. Eff y’all
— ꧁•𝕎𝕠𝕠𝕤𝕒𝕙•꧂ (@woosah_namaste) May 22, 2022
Black Twitter also suggested for people support black-owned ice cream brand Creamalicious by buying the same red velvet flavor that Walmart was promoting.
If you want some red velvet cake ice cream this Juneteenth and beyond, support Black owned Creamalicious which is available at Target. pic.twitter.com/JtvFEfdsLl
— Eunique’s Playing #CultureTags (@eunique) May 23, 2022
In all seriousness……
If you have seen the Juneteenth Ice Cream from Walmart, go ahead and grab some 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
#BlackGirlFunFact | Did y’all know a black woman created her own icecream called “Creamalicious”??! Look at the names!! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/qt1Xy0Crvc
— Black Girl Luxury™️ (@blaxkgirlluxury) May 24, 2022
I took these pics back in March they’ve been ripping her off for months now. 🫤 #creamalicious #juneteenthicecream pic.twitter.com/dlGxjW8JQt
— M Y K A L (@DigitalMyk) May 23, 2022
Stop fussing about that #juneteenthicecream and support this brand that’s Black owned #Creamalicious #blackowned #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/VlfxWhinpd
— Are You Edutained (@AreYouEdutained) May 23, 2022
SOURCE: The Hill