You'd think with everything going on in the world, the design on Starbucks cups would be the least of our worries.
However, with another holiday season comes another wave of Starbucks cup controversy: this year, it's over the supposed liberal bias of the design on the cups.
Starbucks released a new coffee cup design last Tuesday, one week before Election Day. "The cup was designed by artist Shogo Ota who sketched hundreds of figures — from farmers to baristas — embracing in one continuous line. Ota said he hoped the design would serve as a symbol for 'stitching people together as a united community,'" an NBC News article reported.
Starbucks also unveiled the cup on the company's Twitter.
Friends, baristas, and customers drawn in one continuous line—reminding us we're all connected. 💚 pic.twitter.com/qspqJc8KWB
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) November 1, 2016
The new design was intended to promote unity: "During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks' chairman and CEO.
However, though designed with good intentions, the new Starbucks cup drew a significant amount of backlash. Some customers took to Twitter to express their anger:
@Starbucks Screw you. My coffee should NOT (and does NOT) come with political brainwashing. I dropped @Starbucks like a hot rock.
— #GoCubsGo (@RadioAnna) November 1, 2016
@Starbucks whatever! I am never giving y'all any of my hard earned money ever again. Y'all are Killary supporters and against America
— htdpz (@htdpz) November 2, 2016
@Starbucks WORST CUP EVER!!!#WheresOurChristmasCup#CrookedHillary Stole from Children#CrookedHillaryStoleFromYou#HaitiFunds#Wikileaks
— MAGA3X~App19🗝 (@appraiser119) November 2, 2016
It's pretty ridiculous how a cup design symbolizing unity somehow promotes the liberal political agenda. In what world does wanting people to come together demonstrate political brainwashing? If anything, it should show that no matter what happens tonight, we need to remember that we are all human, and should be good to one another.
If you aren't liking the new cups though, don't fret; these new cups aren't the actual holiday cups, and Starbucks posted on their Twitter last Friday morning with a teaser for their holiday cups for this year.
No peeking! 🙈
New #RedCups—coming soon. pic.twitter.com/lUw3ymStGJ
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) November 4, 2016