Starbucks ‘unity’ cups outrage Trump fans

STARBUCKS has unveiled a new cup in the US that it says is meant to be ‘a symbol of unity’ — but some Donald Trump supporters have not taken it well.

Starbucks' new cup has caused controversy. Picture: Mark Lennihan/AP

ONE week before Election Day, Starbucks has unveiled a new cup in the US that it says is meant to be “a symbol of unity” — but some Donald Trump supporters have not taken it well.

The green cup, designed by artist Shogo Ota, features a mosaic of more than 100 people, including a coffee farmer and barista, “drawn in one continuous line, reminding us we’re all connected”.

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

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz called “a divisive time in our country” and said in a statement that the coffee giant wanted to come up with a symbol to serve “as a reminder of our shared values”.

The cup debuted on Tuesday, the same day Seattle-based Starbucks brought back its traditional holiday drinks. But, the company wasn’t saying if it would replace the somewhat derided red holiday cup from last year.

The simple red design of that cup was criticised by some for lacking in holiday spirit, and Trump himself even floated the idea of boycotting Starbucks over the red cups in November last year.

The green cup’s overtly political message and the timing of its release were quickly criticised by supporters of the Republican presidential nominee, with some users online threatening a boycott over “political brainwashing” and “liberal bias”.

Twitter user @RadioAnna said: “Screw you. My coffee should NOT (and does NOT) come with political brainwashing. I dropped @Starbucks like a hot rock.”

@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

@realDonaldTrump add @Starbucks tired of "liberal" agenda being poured down my throat...work to include conservatives...stock price tanking!

— John B. Wright (@westtxbearkat) November 3, 2016

@ArchieBunker19 said: “@Starbucks stop pushing your liberal bulls*** and sell coffee. Lifelong customer becoming disgusted with the forced agenda. #HolidayCupsNow”

@htdpz said: “Whatever! I am never giving ya’ll any of my hard earned money ever again. Ya’ll are Killary supporters and against America.” @joslynnslife asked: “How did the holiday spirit become a political agenda?”

@BordognaPhilip said: “Now that beloved diversity has blown up in our faces, the libs @Starbucks have begun shilling for unity. lol, how typical.”

Others users didn’t see what all the fuss was about. “Can’t believe how p***** people get over a cup of any colour. Lol,” tweeted @Giants55.

Imagine if people cared as much about protecting our planet as they do the design of the Starbucks annual Holiday cup.

— T. Kyle (@tkylemac) November 1, 2016

Unless a Starbucks cup is

A) Threatening to murder you &
B) Somehow seems to have the ability to do so

Then some of you are overreacting

— Katherine Timpf (@KatTimpf) November 2, 2016

The fact that people are against the new @Starbucks coffee cup (a symbol of UNITY) is EXTREMELY disturbing on so many levels.

— Ingrid Michaelson (@ingridmusic) November 3, 2016

“Unless a Starbucks cup is A) Threatening to murder you & B) Somehow seems to have the ability to do so, Then some of you are overreacting,” said @KatTimpf.

Earlier this year, the coffee chain was forced to stop writing “Race Together” on customers’ cups as part of its diversity and racial inequality campaign following a backlash.

The campaign had been criticised as opportunistic and inappropriate, coming in the wake of racially charged events such as violent protests over police killings of black males.