5 things to know about the Starbucks Red Cup Controversy

I hope you will forgive me; I’m going to talk about Starbucks again. But it isn’t what you think.

If you haven’t heard the story, let me explain: the recent controversy over the Starbucks Coffee chain is because of their new wintertime cup. The design on the cup is simply a bright red background with the Starbucks mermaid logo in the center. This deviates from past years’ cups, which featured wintry designs, like snowflakes or snowmen, against the same red backdrop. No one minded the newest, simpler image until Joshua Feuerstein, a former radio evangelist, posted a video on Facebook suggesting the company’s stark design was because Starbucks “hates Jesus.” Pandemonium ensued, at least on the Internet.

Here are five reasons why I stand with Starbucks in the recent “scandal” to hit the company’s holidays (and it’s not because of my love of lattes!)

1. The confusing logic

Feuerstein claims that Starbucks’ 2015 holiday cups are anti-religious. He says this because, in previous years, Starbucks has decked their holiday cups with snowmen, reindeer, trees, and other secular images, but now the cups are simply solid red. Feuerstein argues that Starbucks has made a statement against religion by removing these images. But since when did Starbucks ever claim its cups were for Christianity or any other faith? Was there a reindeer at the manger or snowmen by the menorah?

2. The minimalistic design isn’t something new

Actually, this design difference isn’t a sudden switch in style. Starbucks holiday cups have been trending more and more minimalistic in recent years. Last year, the company dubbed its newest design of travel mugs and tumblers “The Dot” collection. As you can imagine, it featured a singular circle in the middle of the cup.

3. Graphic design v. political statement

The company stated that the lack of images is meant to be a “blank canvas” for anyone to tell his or her story, while the coffee chain’s website also mentions that Starbucks aims to be a place of “simplicity and quietness” during the holidays. I will concede that Starbucks’ response to this controversy seems unsatisfying, but maybe it’s hard to reason with Feuerstein’s illogical argument. I personally think the sparse graphic design is simply an artistic trend meant to accompany Starbucks’ minimalistic storefronts.

4. Starbucks isn’t anti-Christmas – and there’s proof

Another argument that Feuerstein makes is that Starbucks employees cannot wish their customers “Merry Christmas.” I spoke with a Chicago Starbucks barista and asked her if this was true. She said that Starbucks has no such rule. Instead, her managers encouraged the employees to “be aware of other holidays and ways to celebrate this season.” Also, Starbucks sells a “Christmas” coffee blend and gift cards with the words “Merry Christmas” prominently displayed across the front. Starbucks has similar products for other wintertime holidays as well. Offensive, right?

5. This isn’t really about Starbucks

The major significance of this scandal, in my opinion, is the fact that a one-minute and eighteen-second video from a relatively unknown individual on Facebook can cause such a stir. From politicians to twitter hashtags, the Internet exploded with the red cup issue.

So, thank you, Feuerstein, for proving that one voice and one cell phone camera can be used to make a difference in the world.

Next time, let’s make it something that matters.

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