Fifty Shades of Yay: What Walmart Did When Moms Discovered “Fifty Shades of Grey” in the Young Readers Section

Recently, a mother in Tennessee was shopping for books with her teenaged daughter.

“Mom,” her daughter said, “Can I read Fifty Shades of Grey.”

To the mom’s surprise, there the book some describe as “mommy porn” was nestled right next to Shel Silverstein’s poetry on the Teen and Young Readers shelf.  After talking to the managers, they moved the books and assured her it was an oversight.

But a couple of weeks later, the mom noticed “Fifty Shades” was re-shelved there again.  Another complaint, another assurance from managers.

After a second mom noticed the books were back a third time, they called the national headquarters which gave mixed messages.  (While one operator might seem to be on board with the moms’ concerns, others were comfortable with the book’s placement.)

After the moms blogged and went on social media, the confusion was cleared up. One mom got a personal call from the local store’s manager and was reassured that the issue had been resolved.

Walmart even reached out on social media to explain that this was not supposed to happen and that they’re making sure it doesn’t happen again.

Thanks, Walmart!  And thanks to the diligent moms out there who politely but adamantly protect their kids (and other people’s kids) from what the culture tries to throw at them.

Related: Check out this “Sabotaged” Books-a-Million “Fifty Shades of Grey” Display 

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