The largest company in the United States has announced major changes to its “woke” policies after discussions with commentator Robby Starbuck. Walmart, a longtime symbol of mainstream consumerism and which built its brand throughout the 1980s with “Made in America” sloganeering and references to traditional American values, has reportedly decided to scale back initiatives seen as promoting progressive social agendas.
Last week, Starbuck informed Walmart executives about his upcoming story on wokeness within the company. However, rather than engaging in confrontations, they held a discussion to explore potential solutions. Starbuck, a vocal critic of “woke policies” in corporate America, shared the details of the changes in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He credited “productive conversations” with Walmart executives for the company’s shift toward what he described as “corporate neutrality.” Starbuck framed Walmart’s decision as a significant victory for the growing conservative movement against woke corporate policies.
“I am simply advocating for corporate neutrality,” Starbuck explained in a video posted to his X account. “I believe that that is the future because I understand there are people in this country who do not agree with my politics, so it would not be fair of me to force my politics on them the same way that I am not okay with left-wing policies being forced on me and people like me via things like DEI.”
Walmart, currently America’s largest employer with over 1.6 million employees and a market capitalization nearing $800 billion, according to Forbes, has announced several significant changes. Among the most notable, the company will discontinue its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, both publicly and privately. The company will also shut down its Racial Equity Center, a five-year initiative with a $100 million investment, and discontinue its racial equity training through the Racial Equity Institute. Furthermore, Walmart will no longer take part in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which rates businesses on their LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
WATCH:
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
Starbuck explained that Walmart also intends to remove specific products from its shelves, particularly those marketed to children that have faced criticism for promoting transgender identities. Items such as chest binders and books about gender transitioning will no longer be sold. Additionally, the retailer will review and potentially discontinue funding for events like drag queen story hours and pride celebrations deemed “inappropriate for children.”
Walmart will cease using the term “Latinx” in its official communications, in line with polls indicating that the term is unpopular among many Hispanic Americans. The company also announced plans to review its supplier diversity programs to ensure equal treatment regardless of race. Additionally, Walmart will revise its financing eligibility criteria to eliminate requirements for demographic disclosures.
“Our campaigns are now so effective that we’re getting the biggest companies on earth to change their policies without me even posting a story outlining their woke policies,” he wrote on X. “Companies can clearly see that America wants normalcy back. The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality. We are now the trend, not the anomaly. We are winning and one by one we WILL bring sanity back to corporate America.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.