Why Krogers Juneteenth Cakes Went Viral: A Baker’s Dozen of Drama
The infamous Kroger Juneteenth cakes that sparked the controversy
It all started when TikToker @blaq.monalisa visited her local Kroger in Atlanta, Georgia, and stumbled upon what can only be described as a frosting catastrophe. The video, which now has over 10 million views, shows several cookie cakes with hastily scrawled messages like “FREE,” “June 19 Free,” and the internet’s favorite: “Free @ Last” (complete with the @ symbol, because nothing says “emancipation from slavery” quite like internet shorthand).
“This is some bulls***,” the TikToker declared in the video. “Who the hell made this ugly a** s***? Y’all decorate everything else around here cute, everything else around here cute. But for Juneteenth, you wanna just throw something on a freaking cookie cake and expect someone to buy it?”
The contrast was clear as day – beautifully decorated birthday cakes and other treats sitting just shelves away from these half-hearted Juneteenth offerings. It was the bakery equivalent of turning in your homework after doing it on the bus ride to school.
What Kroger’s PR team probably wished they could do
Kroger’s Response: Damage Control with a Cherry on Top
Kroger’s calendar for next year might need some revisions
Kroger quickly went into damage control mode, releasing a statement that the cakes were “inconsistent with our provided guidance and not of the quality we would expect to see from our stores.”
The company confirmed that the products had been removed and that they had “addressed this directly with the store teams and the customer who took the initial video.” Translation: Someone in the bakery department had a very uncomfortable meeting with management.
In a follow-up TikTok, @blaq.monalisa confirmed the cakes had indeed been removed, but noted, “I still feel some type of way that they didn’t replace them with better Juneteenth cakes.” Fair point – removing the problem without providing a solution is like scraping burnt cookies into the trash without making a new batch.
The aftermath: Empty shelves where the controversial cakes once stood
A Brief History Lesson: What Juneteenth Actually Celebrates
For those who might need a refresher, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free – a full two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The holiday has deep historical significance and has been celebrated in various forms since 1866. In 2021, it became a federal holiday, marking an important recognition of this crucial moment in American history.
From historical celebration to cookie cake controversy
Which makes it all the more important that celebrations and commemorations of the day be done with care, respect, and maybe just a touch more effort than what was on display at that Atlanta Kroger.
Not the First Frosting Fiasco: A Pattern of Problematic Products
This isn’t the first time a major retailer has faced backlash over Juneteenth-themed products. In 2022, Walmart pulled its Juneteenth-themed ice cream after critics labeled it “the epitome of white supremacy in action” and accused the company of trying to capitalize on a Black holiday rather than highlighting existing Black-owned ice cream brands.
The growing collection of Juneteenth marketing mishaps
Then in 2023, Walmart was in hot water again with watermelon-themed Juneteenth cakes. While watermelon and red-colored foods are traditionally associated with Juneteenth celebrations, many commenters still found the execution “tacky.”
It seems like major retailers might need to invest in some cultural sensitivity training before next year’s holiday – or maybe just consult with literally anyone from the communities that have been celebrating Juneteenth for generations.
Lessons in Frosting: What Brands Can Learn
A quick guide for brands on what not to do
If there’s anything to be learned from this frosting fiasco, it’s that half-hearted attempts at cultural recognition often do more harm than good. Here are some takeaways for brands:
- If you’re going to acknowledge a cultural holiday, do it with the same care and attention you’d give to any other celebration
- Consult with members of the communities you’re trying to honor
- Train your staff appropriately – don’t leave them to figure it out on their own
- Consider whether your recognition is adding value or just trying to capitalize on a moment
- When you mess up (because sometimes you will), apologize sincerely and do better next time
Or, as one commenter put it more succinctly: “They were better off just not acknowledging Juneteenth.” Sometimes silence is better than a poorly executed gesture.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Kroger Cake Controversy
Can I still buy the controversial Kroger Juneteenth cakes?
Did Kroger apologize for the Juneteenth cakes?
Who was responsible for decorating the cakes?
Has this happened with other retailers?
As we move forward, perhaps the sweetest outcome would be if retailers learned to either put in the proper effort or step back and find other ways to support and recognize important cultural moments. After all, some things are too important to be reduced to a hastily decorated cookie cake.
What a thoughtful Juneteenth celebration cake could look like
The Internet’s Reaction: A Crumb-tastrophe of Comments
The comments section exploded faster than an overfilled pastry bag, with users expressing everything from outrage to dark humor about the cakes.
“‘Free @ last’ is diabolical,” wrote one TikTok user, while another added, “They were better off just not acknowledging Juneteenth.”
One particularly creative commenter noted, “If you didn’t bring up Juneteenth, I would’ve thought it was a welcome home from jail cake.” Ouch. That’s the kind of burn not even a baker’s oven could match.
TikTok reacts to the Kroger cake situation
The video quickly spread beyond TikTok, with Reddit users debating whether this was a case of malice or just understaffing. One alleged Kroger employee wrote, “I understand that people here are overworked and underpaid like crazy. However, admittedly these cakes are not the best looking and def could’ve been made better.”
Others pointed out that “it was probably someone with minimal training and not much time, doing their best.” Which begs the question – if you don’t have time to do it right, should you be doing it at all?