Outrage has its limits at Walmart

Walmart was quick to sever ties with Paula Deen earlier this year, but the extent of the company’s outrage over her racist comments wasn’t sufficient to warrant immediately rooting the disgraced Food Network Star’s merchandise from its supply chain.

According to an Associated Press report this week, Walmart was still selling Deen’s merchandise and planned to continue doing so for several months even though the company had vowed in late June to end its relationship with the celebrity cook after some of her racist comments became public. Walmart’s site also featured a large offering of Deen branded goods, many of which were offered at “Rollback” prices.

That Walmart continues to sell Deen’s products shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how carefully the company parsed its words on June 26 when it announced, “We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed.” The company went on to say it would, “work with suppliers to address existing inventories and agreements.”

Meanwhile, Deen is pressing forward to rebuild her tarnished brand, an effort unwittingly aided by Walmart as it looks to liquidate her inventory while preserving margins.

Click here to read the AP story.