Walmart confirmed Monday it would backpedal on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck.
In a company statement, Walmart announced it was “willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America,” Bloomberg News reported. Walmart has already removed some LGBT-themed merchandise from its website, including transgender chest binders marketed toward children, company spokeswoman Molly Blakeman said.
Starbuck took to social media platform X and claimed Walmart’s DEI reversal followed “productive conversations” he had with the company’s executives after informing them he would run a story on “wokeness” at the company. (RELATED:‘We Will Be Relentless’: One. Simple. Trick … And Corporations Scramble To Kill ‘Divisive’ Diversity Policies)
MASSIVE news: Walmart is ending their woke policies. I can now exclusively tell you what’s changing and how it happened.
Last week I told execs at @Walmart that I was doing a story on wokeness there. Instead we had productive conversations to find solutions.
Below are the… pic.twitter.com/BD02xJQ0X2
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) November 25, 2024
As part of the change, Walmart will no longer use the term “DEI” in company documents, employee titles or employee resource groups. Walmart’s “chief diversity officer” will now be known as the company’s “chief belonging officer,” according to the outlet.
The retail giant will stop pouring millions into liberal nonprofits like the Center for Racial Equity, which Walmart launched after mass protests of the death of George Floyd in 2020. Walmart and its foundation previously pledged $100 million to the center over five years, the outlet noted.
Standing ovation for @robbystarbuck who is perhaps the most influential person in America restoring our culture & country to sanity! He is🔥!
And thanks to @Walmart for focusing on the core business of retail. It’s a gift to the customers & shareholders. https://t.co/tOWMUZup4W— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) November 26, 2024
Walmart will also stop sharing data with the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that keeps track of companies’ LGBT policies, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Workers At Major Airport Go On Strike During Busy Week Of Thanksgiving Travel)
“We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone,” the company statement says.
Despite the company’s massive DEI pullback, Walmart will still award grants, disaster relief and funding for Pride parades, Blakeman said. There will be more restrictions, however, on how this funding can be used, Bloomberg News reported.
Wokeness is on its deathbed.
Great work, @robbystarbuck 🙌🏼 https://t.co/LPyr51GogU pic.twitter.com/foweLitdDR
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) November 26, 2024
Starbuck mentioned the impact of Walmart’s DEI reversal by saying it is the top employer in the U.S. with more than 1.6 million employees.
“We are winning and one by one we WILL bring sanity back to corporate America,” Starbuck wrote on X.