Yahoo Finance Walmart Canada reviewing "All Lives Matter" items for sale on Marketplace site
Walmart Canada says it is reviewing sales of items featuring phrases such as “All Lives Matter” on its website with third-party sellers after a wave of consumer backlash.
Hundreds of Twitter uses criticized the company online on Tuesday over the sale of a t-shirt featuring the words “All Lives Matter.” The phrase “All Lives Matter” has been used to criticize and diminish the purpose of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The t-shirt is for sale on Walmart Marketplace, an Amazon-style service that allows approved third-parties to sell products on the Walmart website.
A spokesperson for Walmart Canada said the retailer is reviewing the items for sale on its Marketplace website.
Are you kidding me @WalmartCanada???
Disgusting. Do better. https://t.co/xKiE82NAWi— Kate Udle (@KateUdle) June 23, 2020
Hello Kate. This item is sold and shipped by a third party seller. We've forwarded your comments to the appropriate department to look into further. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
— Walmart Canada (@WalmartCanada) June 23, 2020
“At Walmart Canada, we stand against any form of racism or discrimination. We promote listening, seeking to understand and embracing individual differences,” Adam Grachnik, Walmart Canada’s director of corporate affairs, said in a statement.
“Today, our third-party marketplace has a number of items with variations on the phrase ‘lives matter’. We will continue to review those items to ensure compliance with our terms and conditions.”
Walmart Canada’s official Twitter account also replied to numerous users who were criticizing the company for selling the t-shirts, saying that it is looking into the item.
“This item is sold and shipped by a third party seller and is currently being looked into,” the company replied on Twitter.
Walmart has previously released statements saying it is “taking steps to address racism head-on and accelerate change.” The company has committed $100 million towards a new centre for racial equity that it said will “address systemic racism in society.”
“The doors of Walmart are open to everyone,” the company said. “Our stores should be a place where every individual can feel welcome and know that they will be treated with respect as they work or shop.”
Walmart has previously faced criticism over items sold on its third party website.
Last December, the retailer apologized and pulled a line of inappropriate Christmas-themed sweaters, including one appearing to feature Santa and cocaine.
“These sweaters, sold by a third-party seller on Walmart.ca, do not represent Walmart’s values and have no place on our website,” a spokesperson said at the time.
“We have removed these products from our marketplace. We apologize for any unintended offence this may have caused.”
Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
