Starbucks under fire after barista-customer clash over Charlie Kirk’s name

A Starbucks barista’s refusal over Charlie Kirk’s name sparks viral controversy.

A recent incident at a Starbucks in Yucaipa, California, has sparked controversy after a barista reportedly refused to write conservative activist Charlie Kirk's name on a coffee cup, citing company policy against "political names."

The incident was captured in a viral TikTok video, leading to widespread discussion and calls for a boycott of the coffee chain.

In the video, a customer orders Kirk's favorite drink, a Mint Majesty tea with two honeys, and requests that the name "Charlie Kirk" be written on the cup.

The barista responds that the system won't print the sticker with that name, stating, "We can't do political names."

When asked if the name could be written manually, the barista agrees to write "Charlie" but insists that the full name is considered political.

Starbucks has since confirmed that there is no policy preventing the use of Kirk's name on orders.

The incident has elicited strong reactions online, particularly among conservative circles.

Many supporters of Kirk have expressed outrage, with some alleging that Starbucks' system is programmed to block certain names.

Conversely, some commentators have criticized the customer for intentionally provoking the situation, suggesting that the goal was to create controversy for online attention.

This incident adds to a series of controversies involving Starbucks and its employees' conduct.

In 2020, a Muslim woman filed a discrimination charge after a barista wrote "ISIS" on her coffee cup instead of her name. Starbucks responded by issuing an apology and providing a gift card, but the incident raised questions about employee training and company policies.

While the company maintains that there is no official policy against writing certain names, individual employee interpretations and actions have led to public backlash and calls for accountability.