Walmart Apologizes After Third Party Seller Uses N-Word To Describe Product Color

A third party seller on the Walmart website recently used the n-word to describe the color of a netting weave cap, listing the color as “n–-brown.” Although the product’s description has since been changed, a screen grab of the original has gone viral. Walmart issued an apology on Monday but the damage was already done.

“We are very sorry and appalled that this third party seller listed their item with this description on our online marketplace,” Walmart said in a statement online. “It is a clear violation of our policy and has been removed and we are investigating the seller to determine how this could have happened.”

The cap was made by Jagazi Naturals, a Britain-based company that specializes in hair products tailored for black people. Jagazi also shifted the blame onto a third party seller, claiming the ad was not posted by them.

“The real JAGAZI is a 100% black company for black people,” the company said in a statement. “People have often used our brand name to try to sell their products. Please be aware. Very sorry for all the distress this has caused. We are feeling the pain here as well. Most shocking!”

The scandal comes at a time when Walmart is trying to vigorously expand their online marketplace, in the hopes of competing with industry leader Amazon. As part of the expansion, the company has utilized third party sellers, like the ones who used the vulgar term to describe their product.