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WalMart 'Suicide Scar Wound' Costume Provokes Outrage
For Black Friday, we rounded up our past stories about Walmart investigating everything from popular scams to political donations.
by Joey Esposito , Oct. 22, 2016
Image courtesy of Getty Images
As eager holiday shoppers prepare for another onslaught of Black Friday deals, few big box retailers are set to capitalize on the season of giving more than Walmart. The retail giant touted a holiday sales record of $994 billion in 2024, leading in hot gift-giving categories like toys, video games, televisions and home items, according to its own data .
With over 10,000 stores globally , rumors about the Bentonville, Arkansas-based, retail chain are common, particularly around the holiday season. Over the years, Snopes has investigated a wide range of claims about Walmart, including a variety of scams , whispers of operating changes , political donations and inappropriate products — like a T-shirt with a swastika or a shirt promoting the execution of journalists — being sold on the retailer's website.
Before you line up for Black Friday deals, take a look back at 20 claims Snopes has investigated about Walmart.
By Joey Esposito
Joey Esposito has written for a variety of entertainment publications. He's into music, video games ... and birds.
Shirt with Nazi salute was briefly sold on Walmart's website
Nov. 11, 2025
Walmart removed the third-party listings for violating its prohibited products policy following ...
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Does this video show Walmart 'shoplifter detention' cells?
Nov. 6, 2025
In early November 2025, users shared a video clip allegedly showing people detained in holding c ...
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Real video shows rioting and looting at Walmart?
Oct. 28, 2025
The video supposedly showed people grabbing essentials from the retailer because the government ...
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Did 300 bikers shut down Walmart to defend veteran Henry 'Hammer' Morrison?
Aug. 29, 2025
The Road Warriors Motorcycle Club allegedly came to defend the honor of their founder after he w ...
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Investigating claim Walmart fired executive for taking $30K in daily kickbacks from Indian staffing agencies
Aug. 26, 2025
One online user's post alleged "massive fraud" at the retailer. Here's what we know.
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Walmart heiress Christy Walton paid for NYT anti-Trump protest ad. Here's everything we know
June 11, 2025
The full-page ad reportedly encouraged readers to attend a "No Kings" protest on June 14, 2025.
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Walmart Canceled Taylor Swift Clothing Line Worth $150M?
Oct. 2, 2024
A social media post alleged the retail giant was not a fan of Swift's political endorsement.
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Coors, Walmart and ExxonMobil Contributed Money to Project 2025's Heritage Foundation?
July 13, 2024
Online users shared a rumor claiming leaders of the conservative Project 2025 initiative previou ...
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Walmart Announced All Locations Will Go Back to 24 Hours?
May 31, 2024
The company reduced its hours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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'Freedom Nuggets': Walmart Is Selling Great Value Chicken Nuggets Shaped Like Guns?
May 20, 2024
With the Memorial Day holiday just days away, online users posted, "Dino nuggets ain’t cutting i ...
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'So Far No One Has Found Another Number' Walmart Gift Card Facebook Scam
July 26, 2023
Legitimate gift card giveaways from Walmart are not hosted by random users in Facebook groups.
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Walmart Responds to Rumor It's Charging for Carts
Feb. 2, 2023
A person in a TikTok video that had millions of views said, "Starting Feb. 1, Walmart is going t ...
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$500 Walmart Store Credit Offer in Facebook Posts Is a Scam
Nov. 22, 2022
Facebook posts about winning a "$500 store credit" or "$500 Walmart credit" are not legitimate o ...
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SCAM ALERT: Walmart Is Not Giving Away Vouchers To Celebrate Going Plastic Bag-Free
March 24, 2021
Though the retail giant has made a commitment to reduce the use of plastic bags, stores around t ...
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Text to Receive a Free Walmart Gift Card?
April 9, 2018
An insidious scam ended with Facebook users involuntarily spamming their groups.
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Did Walmart Sell Shirts That Allude to Hanging Journalists?
Dec. 5, 2017
The retailer removed the shirt after receiving a complaint from the Radio Television Digital New ...
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Walmart Security Cameras on Shelves Are 'Fake,' TikTok Videos Claim
June 17, 2021
A seemingly countless number of TikTok videos purport to show that Walmart security cameras atta ...
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Does This Video Show a Walmart Without Enough Security Guards Being Looted?
Nov. 28, 2018
When the guards are away, the looters will play.
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Did Police Discover a Meth Lab in a Back Room of an Alabama Walmart?
Dec. 27, 2017
Rumors that a facility for making methamphetamines was found at a store in Decatur originated wi ...
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WalMart 'Suicide Scar Wound' Costume Provokes Outrage
Oct. 22, 2016
The retailing giant's Halloween offering of a 'Suicide Scar Wound' costume accessory didn't sit ...
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