Christmas is a time for joy, giving, and unity — unfortunately for brands like Starbucks, some people also see it as a time to get really worked up about packaging choices.
A number of Evangelical Christians have taken umbrage at Starbuck’s decision to go do away with their usual imagery of snowflakes, snowmen, and sleigh bells and opt for a minimalistic red ombre design for their cups.Some went as far as positing that the company removed their images of reindeer, Christmas trees, and snow because it “hates Jesus”.
Ex-pastor Joshua Feuerstein’s prank went viral when he told the Starbucks crew his name was “Merry Christmas” so baristas will have to write the names on the cups and call them out in the shop. He even proudly brandished a gun he brought into the shop with him, and encouraged viewed to start a “Merry Christmas” movement.
https://www.facebook.com/joshua.feuerstein.5/videos/689569711145714/
Starbucks took Merry Christmas off their cups. Well my new name is Merry Christmas #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/a6BHeqK4jK
— Chris Gonzales (@CallMeGonzo15) November 8, 2015
@Starbucks #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/MOCJGsqH1K
— Conrad (@mazeika83) November 7, 2015
Im asking Starbucks to put Merry Christmas on my cup. #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/CuZIBxZ6oS
— Leah Whatley (@ElyonSpaGirl) November 6, 2015
On the other side of the issue, a number of other people brook no issue with the cup design and instead gave the Internet a piece of their minds on the people who actually took offense with it and blew the issue out of proportion. As always, sarcasm was employed to the hilt.
I just went into Starbucks and forced them to draw a detailed, historically accurate nativity scene on my cup.
— Chris Johnson (@TheChalls) November 9, 2015
As you ignore the cold homeless guy sitting outside Starbucks, please be sure to complain about the 'non-christian' red cup of $5 coffee.
— My Daughter's Army (@mydaughtersarmy) November 9, 2015
I am a HUGE fan of @Starbucks' new Satanic holiday cup. All hail Satan! #StarbucksRedCup #starbuckschristmas pic.twitter.com/i5RPBrvKkv
— Cole Haddon (@colehaddon) November 9, 2015
Other Christians called out the ridiculousness of the whole situation.
As a Christian, I can tell you that the color of Starbucks cups have nothing to do with Jesus, the gospel, or Christianity. They are cups.
— MICHAEL (@MCastroMusic) November 9, 2015
Oh man…. These #MerryChristmasStarbucks memes are giving me life rn ??? pic.twitter.com/1N2brqRil5
— Anh Nguyen (@Anhieee) November 10, 2015
Because this…. #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/lvco5gF0sJ
— Ashley (@ashnicole83) November 10, 2015
Some asked the question: why just one world religion, anyway?
Why #MerryChristmasStarbucks? Why not #HappyHanukkahStarbucks, #MerryKwanzaaStarbucks or #HappyWinterSolsticeStarbucks?
— Jay Ripley (@SiriusTattooer) November 8, 2015
Snowflakes became a major crux of the matter.
#MerryChristmasStarbucks Leave it to Americans to get pissed off about a coffee cup without snowflakes on it.
— Notre Kane (@Brythemusicguy) November 8, 2015
I support your plain red cup design, @Starbucks. Plus, there are snowflakes on the sleeves! #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/o6Ezav7PLb
— Murray Meetze (@murraymeetze) November 8, 2015
There, they fixed the cups. (Solutions include one infamous image hanging in presidential candidate Ben Carson’s home.)
I fixed the controversial Starbucks "Christmas" cup. #merrychristmasstarbucks pic.twitter.com/kCOIPyb9mU
— jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) November 9, 2015
. @Starbucks just put this on your next Christmas cup pic.twitter.com/gxxLICiadz
— Virginia Dick Wolf (@AbrissErik) November 9, 2015
The only thing I care about when it comes to my Starbucks cup is that it’s full. https://t.co/ckw8BYdWCG pic.twitter.com/XFDydOleZi
— Glennon Doyle Melton (@Momastery) November 9, 2015
Starbucks doesn't hate Christmas or Christians. Cut the crap. #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/9SYh7mxEqV
— wendy mason (@wenm2911) November 8, 2015
This last tweet pretty much sums up the feelings of the Twitter backlash:
Seriously? #merrychristmasstarbucks is a thing? If only there were *real* problems in the world….. #idiocracy pic.twitter.com/beKf6YFXqF
— Christine Frost (@Shahrazad1001) November 7, 2015
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