Walmart pulls ‘disrespectful’ Juneteenth-themed ice cream
Walmart was forced to pull its ice cream commemorating Juneteenth after it was blasted as “disrespectful” and “greedy.”
“Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation, and enduring hope,” the ice cream’s label read.
The product, which boasted red velvet and cheesecake flavors, also featured a trademark logo by the word “Juneteenth.”
But the dessert was quickly slammed on social media by critics who accused the retail giant of trying to profit off black people.
“How disrespectful and greedy. Always finding a way to exploit and line your pockets. @Walmart,” one angry sweet-lover tweeted.
“What makes this soo bad and has me furious is, it’s not that #Walmart is tone deaf, it’s just as you said, they’re trying to profit off of Black people once again, as if we don’t already give them enough of our money. Their blatant disrespect is infuriating! #JuneteenthIceCream,” seethed another.
Another critic wrote, “Walmart can go to hell with that Juneteenth ice cream. Cause who is that even for?”
A fourth simply added, “No one asked for this @Walmart #juneteenth.”
The mass outrage heated up after WRAL reporter Chris Lovingood tweeted images Sunday of Walmart’s Great Value brand dessert.
The company The Post Tuesday that the controversial product had been pulled as a result of the backlash.
“Juneteenth holiday marks a celebration of freedom and independence,” the company said in a statement.
“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.”
Juneteenth, which was made a federal holiday last year, is observed each year on June 19 to mark the official end of slavery in the US.
The day, which gets its name from combining June and 19th, has long been celebrated by black Americans as a symbol of their long-awaited emancipation more than 150 years ago in Galveston, Texas.
Congress passed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021, and all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation recognizing it as a holiday or observance.
Texas became the first state in the US to declare Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980.
While the majority of states observe the day, only a handful of states — outside of Texas — recognize it as a paid state holiday.
Juneteenth is an official holiday in New York City.
