To its credit, the brand is known for being LGBTQ-friendly. Related: AFA goes nuts after Wal-Mart features gay love story in video It is unknown if Walmart is making any donations from sales to LGBTQ nonprofits and causes. The Pride ice cream, as far as we know, is still on sale. We are reviewing our assortment and will remove items as appropriate. However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers and we sincerely apologize. Within days, the Juneteenth ice cream had been pulled, with a Walmart spokesperson stating, “Juneteenth holiday marks a commemoration and celebration of freedom and independence. With all of the black-owned brands why not promote their products. President Biden commemorated it as a federal holiday in 2021.Įlectris Jones of Durham, North Carolina, summed up the feelings of many regarding the Juneteenth ice cream, posting to Facebook, “Dear Walmart, Ummm… k.
The date marks the day Union soldiers arrived in Texas, in 1865, with the news that enslaved Black people were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Online, many suggested buying ice cream for a Black-owned business might be a more appropriate way to mark June 19th. On the packaging of the red-velvet flavored treat, the retailer invited people to “Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope.” Related: Big Gay Ice Cream shutters its original store in NYC’s East VillageĪt the same time it launched the Pride ice cream, Walmart also unveiled a Juneteenth ice cream. “Huh, is it time for corporations to pretend to be in support of the gay community to turn a profit again? Time flies, ”said one commentator on Reddit. Many online have commented on the special-edition, Walmart dessert with skepticism, accusing the brand of cashing in on minorities. Some of the responders to it posted shots of the real packagingwhich labels the Pride product as ‘White chocolate-flavored ice cream with brownies and cherries’. The retail giant did indeed unveil its special Pride celebration ice cream a week or so ago. The ice cream appears to be part of Walmart’s Great Value range. – Brooke Lynn Hytes Bhytes1) May 28, 2022
It includes a photo of a special Pride ice cream, claiming it to be “Twink flavored, fudge-packed ice cream with corn and peanuts”. A Walmart store in south San Francisco bay area (Photo: Shutterstock)Ī mischievous tweet by drag queen Brooke Lynn Hytes (host on Canada’s Drag Race) has gone viral ahead of Pride Month.