Just last year, President Joe Biden signed a bill enacting June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day. The holiday commemorates the 1865 date that Union soldiers arrived to announce the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation which was issued more than two years before. The soldiers brought freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas.
Like many holidays, major corporations attempt to capitalize as much as possible. Walmart announced a trademarked Juneteenth ice cream.
“Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope,” the label on the ice cream stated. The label also featured a pair of hands high-fiving while another holds up a peace sign.
The announcement of the ice cream did not go well and the retailer received major backlash on social media. In light of the harsh comments attacking the brand, Walmart released a statement.
“Juneteenth holiday marks a celebration of freedom and independence,” Walmart reportedly said. “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.”
It is unclear what exactly are the rest of the items they are reviewing but the retailer was also selling other Juneteeth-related items including T-shirts.
Take a look at some reactions from Twitter: