Walmart Pulls Juneteenth Ice Cream Following Backlash
Walmart is reportedly removing its Juneteenth commemorative ice cream after the company received backlash over it.
Photos of the desert, which consists of a swirl of red velvet and cheesecake flavors, recently surfaced on social media. "Share and celebrate African-American culture, emancipation and enduring hope," the label of the product reads.
"Juneteenth holiday marks a celebration of freedom and independence," the company said in a statement to FOX Television Stations. "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, a holiday celebrated first mainly in the southwest and later across the nation, commemorates the 1865 notification of Blacks in the Galveston, Tex., area that they were no longer enslaved due to the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued more than two years prior. It became a national holiday for the first time in 2021 after President Biden signed a bill recognizing its celebration each June 19.
