Starbucks Cups Controversy Prompts Bizarre Link To Islam

It's not the first time the cups have caused controversy.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

The revelation that the latest Starbucks cup will be green has led some people to suggest the global coffee chain is promoting Islam.

Starbucks revealed its new design on Tuesday with the title “a symbol of unity”.

Starbucks new green cup displayed for the press on Tuesday this week
Starbucks new green cup displayed for the press on Tuesday this week
ASSOCIATED PRESS

But the bizarre religious association came as a flurry of voices criticised the coffee giant, including former Ukip leadership candidate Raheem Kassam.

Last year I joked that next year would see the Starbucks cups adopt a green (colour of Islam) theme. At least I thought I was joking... https://t.co/eyerjyrDB7

— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) November 1, 2016

While Kassam has since told HuffPost UK his tweet was “taking the piss”, others suggested the design echoed the colours of the flag of the Arab league.

One is the Starbucks “holiday” “unity” cup. The other is the official flag of the Arab League. Can u tell the difference? pic.twitter.com/BOhwRDOwdW

— Biff Diddle (@BiffDiddle) November 1, 2016

Others suggested a boycott citing “political brainwashing”.

@Starbucks Screw you. My coffee should NOT (and does NOT) come with political brainwashing. I dropped @Starbucks like a hot rock.

— #ScrewStarbucks (@RadioAnna) November 1, 2016

Some went further, suggesting the cups were linked to the so-called Islamic State.

William Hicks wrote on Heat Street: “The giant coffee chain is calling this year’s monstrosity the “unity” cup... Hmm, what else is unified…. ISIS!!?! The unified caliphate of the Islamic State!”

It’s not the first time Starbucks has found itself at the centre of a political storm over the colour of its cups.

Last year, Christian evangelicals in America claimed the Seattle-based chain had declared “war on Christmas” by using a simple shade of red on its festive packaging.

Joshua Feuerstein’s widely shared Facebook rant about the issue has been viewed 16 million times since it was posted last November.

“Starbucks isn’t allowed to say Merry Christmas to customers,” Feuerstein raged. “Do you realise that Starbucks wanted to take Christ and Christmas off of their brand new cups? That’s why they’re just plain red.”

And rather than propose a boycott, Feuerstein asked his followers to “prank” Starbucks by giving the name ‘Merry Christmas’ when asked by employees.

Joshua Feuerstein claimed Starbucks had intentionally removed 'Christ and Christmas' from its cups last year
Joshua Feuerstein claimed Starbucks had intentionally removed 'Christ and Christmas' from its cups last year
Joshua Feuerstein/Facebook

The furore sparked a national scandal in the US, with The Washington Post observing: “Starbucks certainly didn’t seem to anticipate this... in many ways, the cups seemed designed to be unremarkable.”

Kassam, who pulled out of the Ukip leadership race on Monday, had commented on last year’s red cups, writing at the time: “More open? You mean, you’re trying not to ‘offend’ anyone.

“Frankly, the only thing that can redeem them from this whitewashing of Christmas is to print Bible verses on their cups next year.”

Starbucks

Starbucks launched its limited edition green design on Tuesday by saying the cup was about developing ‘unity’ at a time of great division.

It comissioned artist Shogo Ota to create the design to demonstrate ‘humanity and connection’.

Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, said: “The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers. 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.”

Before You Go

LOADINGERROR LOADING
Close

What's Hot