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A wise man once said, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store.” But try telling that to social media users. Just a year after Starbucks stores were accused of not being Christmas-y enough with their minimalist red cups, the coffee chain has landed in hot water again: this time over green cups.
The newest iteration of Starbucks’ seasonal cups has many taking to social media to unite in opposition to the new design — which may not be the only holiday cup in store this year! — and threatening to boycott the chain.
Starbucks released the green cups on November 1, with a statement from CEO Howard Schultz explaining the cup’s design represents “a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.” Christmas trees? No, but the green cup does feature “a mosaic of more than a hundred people, drawn in one continuous stroke.” In other words, the cups aren’t really meant to be about Christmas, but a celebration of coming together. But that hasn’t stopped critics from arguing that the non-Christmas cups aren't Christmas-y enough.
The backlash has been swift in the day since the cup’s release. As NBC News reports, some Twitter users have accused Starbucks of "political brainwashing" and spreading "liberal bias,” while others say the cups are an attack on Christian values.
RT if you think @Starbucks is trying to take Jesus out of Christmas with the new cup. Make this go viral so Starbucks makes cups red again. pic.twitter.com/KjscsgpAxQ
— Jazmine H (@JazzHandd) November 1, 2016
Now that beloved diversity has blown up in our faces, the libs @Starbucks have begun shilling for unity. lol,,, how typical
— Philip Bordogna (@BordognaPhilip) November 1, 2016
@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
@Starbucks stop pushing your liberal bullshit and sell coffee. Lifelong customer becoming disgusted with the forced agenda. #HolidayCupsNow
— Archie Bunker (@ArchieBunker19) November 1, 2016
It’s safe to say that “maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more” than paper cups, but the criticism will surely persist. Though it just released the green cup, Starbucks is rumored to have a second seasonal cup in the works, and it might just be red.
• Starbucks' New 'Unity' Cup Draws Fire Ahead of Election [NBC News]
• Starbucks’ New Green Cups Are a Christmas Tease [E]
Watch: How Starbucks Went From Failure to On-Demand
