MCDONOUGH, GA -- A local Walmart is facing a backlash after employees there refused to make a "Blue Lives Matter" cake for a retiring police officer, and the story is going viral.
The officer's daughter says it was a cake for the officer's retirement party, after serving for 25 years. She says the store's refusal left her puzzled and devastated.
A viral social media post has put the store in the spotlight.
Taylor Wilkes, a police officer, created the Facebook post, which has received 4,700 shares. She created the post after hearing after hearing what happened to her friend, Jordan Harkins, who wanted a Blue Lives Matter cake made for her father, a retiring police officer.
"I don't see how a thin blue line on a cake can be perceived as racist," Wilkes said.
11Alive News reached out to Harkins via Facetime and asked what the store's employees told her.
"She said she didn't feel comfortable making that cake," Harkins said.
Harkins said employees initially declined her request, saying the cake might offend some people. After the social media post spread, Harkins said a manager called her to apologize and make the cake.
11Alive News talked with the Walmart manager, who said they fixed the problem. A representative from Walmart's Corporate Communications Department sent the following statement:
"Our goal is to always take care of customers. But, sometimes we misstep. We have addressed this issue with everyone involved and are taking steps to make sure no other customers have this kind of experience in our stores."
"It doesn't make up for the fact that it should have never happened in the first place," Harkins said.
She says she was able to take the cake they finally made to her dad's retirement party.
A Walmart spokesperson says they're glad they were able to get in touch with the family to apologize for what happened.
