Influencer Damon Darling has asked his more than 10 million followers not to boycott Walmart after the retail giant issued him a lifetime ban from all its stores. Darling, known for his acts of kindness and occasional pranks, expressed his continued loyalty to the company and his hope for future business ventures.
"I do wanna make it clear that I don’t have any beef with Walmart," Darling stated in a video posted Wednesday. "I don’t want you guys to have any beef with Walmart. If you were shopping at Walmart, continue to shop at Walmart. I love Walmart."
Darling’s ban stems from an incident where he was filmed being removed from an Ohio Walmart and subsequently informed of the permanent exclusion. While he stated he was "just buying people's groceries" at the time, Walmart issued a statement indicating that Darling "has repeatedly violated our policies through disruptive behavior and trespassing, unrelated to any charitable giving."
The influencer acknowledged that his actions may have crossed boundaries, stating, "I understand that they have their policies. I want to respect their policies. I love Walmart still and I respect them. I’m sorry."
Beyond seeking to overturn the ban, Darling articulated his aspiration to collaborate with Walmart, specifically mentioning his desire to have his Meemaw Coffee product available on the retailer's shelves. He encouraged his followers to advocate for him by asking Walmart for a second chance.
However, some fans have reacted negatively to Darling's plea, with some vowing to stop shopping at Walmart until he is reinstated. The company has not yet responded to further requests for comment regarding the situation.