Walmart Responds to Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'Grooming' Accusations

Walmart has responded to Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's accusations of "grooming" children, after the Republican congresswoman reported that several of her constituents were "upset and absolutely horrified" to find sex toys sold next to children's toothbrushes in one of the retailer's stores.

According to Greene, customers in a Walmart store in Dalton, Georgia, reached out to her to complain about the placement of sex toys on the shelves next to children's products.

"They're extremely upset and absolutely horrified that sex toys are being sold openly right next to children's toothbrushes! This is grooming," the congresswoman wrote on Twitter, sharing pictures that appeared to show the products being sold in close proximity to each other.

"Selling sex toys openly where children are exposed to them is wrong, inappropriate, immoral, indecent, perverted, shameful, and incredibly harmful to children," Greene wrote. "Why is Walmart participating in the grooming and sexualization of children? Is this in all stores or just Dalton?"

She continued: "I don't care how big your corporation, how much money you have, how powerful your lobby is, how big and powerful your political influence is. I just don't care who you are. I will always firmly stand up for what is right and do everything I can to protect kids."

Walmart did not publicly respond to the congresswoman's accusation, but a spokesperson for the retail giant told Newsweek: "The placement of the product was a mistake and was promptly corrected at the store."

In her Twitter post complaining about the retail giant on December 17, Greene had called for Walmart to "resolve" the issue "immediately" and said she "sincerely" hoped the incident was "not common product placement in your stores and that the employees responsible will be reprimanded."

She added: "I do not believe this repulsive grooming represents Walmart."

The accusation of "grooming" children—an expression that's been condemned by LGBTQ activists and advocates as a slur and even a hate word—has been widely embraced by the far-right and by many conservatives in recent years, including Greene.

Only a couple of weeks ago, the Georgia congresswoman attacked Walmart for selling sex toys in its stores, regardless of where those were placed.

Addressing the audience gathered at New York Young Republican Club's gala on December 12, Greene complained about "the state that we're living in right now" as sex toys are readily available at the likes of Walmart and CVS.

Update, 12/21/2022 7:30 a.m. ET time: This article was updated to offer more context on the story.