Starbucks' Plain Red Cups Spark Controversy

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Nov 10, 2015

Starbucks' Plain Red Cups Spark Controversy

As the holiday season approaches, retailers are hauling out their holiday merchandise. Starbucks is doing the same, but a design change to their holiday cups has many Christians up in arms.

This year, Starbucks released its holiday cups with a plain red design. In previous years, the cups featured designs of ornaments, reindeer, and other Christmas-related items.

CCN Money reports that the new plain red design has led many Christians to accuse Starbucks of making a conscious effort to slight Christmas and Christians.

In a video that went viral after being posted on Thursday, former pastor and social media personality Joshua Feuerstein slams Starbucks for removing “Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus.” Feuerstein also asserts that Starbucks baristas are not allowed to say "Merry Christmas," although some baristas have contradicted this.

Feuerstein suggests starting a campaign to “trick” Starbucks into acknowledging Christmas by giving your name as “Merry Christmas” so that baristas will be forced to say the greeting when they hand you your drink. 

Thousands of people have posted pictures to social media doing what Feuerstein suggests and using the hashtag “#MerryChristmasStarbucks.”

Starbucks vice president, however, denies that the company was intentionally trying to take Christmas off its holiday cups, but instead “wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories.”

Some Christians have also criticized Feuerstein’s video and campaign, and have suggested that Christians have bigger issues about which to be concerned. Some, like blogger Clifford Stumme, have also pointed out that Feuerstein’s campaign will only send more business to Starbucks.

Photo courtesy: flickr.com

Publication date: November 9, 2015



Starbucks' Plain Red Cups Spark Controversy