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Latest update: 12/09/2012
- France - racism - USA
Paris Starbucks under fire for racist caricature
A racist illustration drawn by a Starbucks employee in Paris has the coffee chain in hot water after a photo of the caricature was posted online, sparking a cross-Atlantic outcry and talk of similar incidents at other branches.
By FRANCE 24 (text)
A Starbucks branch in Paris has come under fire for allegedly subjecting a Korean-American customer to a racist slur. Instead of asking for the customer’s name, which is normally written onto the customer’s cup in order for identification once their beverage is ready, the employee penned an offensive caricature in its place.
A friend of the customer posted a photograph of the illustration on forum Reddit on Tuesday, sparking outrage among web users and attracting the attention of the American press within hours.
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When a similar incident became headline news earlier this year in Alpharetta, Georgia, Starbucks quickly dismissed the employee and posted the following apology online: “Starbucks does not tolerate discrimination of any kind and has a lengthy history of leading on and supporting policies that promote equality, inclusion and diversity. We were disappointed to hear of the poor experience this customer had in our store and have apologised to him several times. This experience is unacceptable and not indicative of the welcoming and respectful service we strive to offer our customers in our stores.”
Starbucks has yet to comment.
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(21) Reactions
Starbucks
I agree with the man who said employees use whatever system works for them. I did not find what the person wrote as racist at all. I only saw it as a way for them to tell who the drink was for.
French
if some one marked my cup with a swastika, because of my accent, I would be offended, but a smiley is just an ID to mark the correct cup. People will make a mountain out of a mole hill, just to create disturbance, 'cause they have nothing else to do. Sad!
Starbucks
Can you actually fire people in France? I thought that is part of the problem and why businesses do not hire anymore.
Caricature
At least the caricature was smiling.
Starbucks
Really? It's a slow news day when it has to be pointed out that there are people with poor judgement in modern race relations. They did wrong, they got fired...world wide news item...wow
I am a Asian, and I think
I am a Asian, and I think that Korean-American is a jerk, am I a racist?
Starbucks Paris
It will be interesting to find out what happens to this employee,who seems to be a bit of a retard for such a puerile action
Much ado
I suspect facetious attempt at humor rather than inflammatory racism. Oh, wait...this was a frenchman? Then yes, chauvinistic hatred...off with his head!
Boo Hoo
If that was the worst thing that happened to that person that day she should be grateful.
In a busy coffee shop employees use whatever system works for them. It may be a shocking revelation but Asians have slanted eyes! What is racist in depicting that? There was no malicious intent on the part of the employee so what is the big deal? This is a shining example of how infantile Politically Correct and its followers aka the liberal media are.
Racist Starbucks Cup
This says nothing about Starbucks and everything about this anonymous individual who works there. Too bad the customer didn't snap his or her image and make it public. My two cents: I live in Taiwan. There are Starbucks here. Rather than ask my name, they just label the cup 外國人 , or foreigner, when I buy coffee. I'm not offended that they don't ask my name. They are probably just a) shy b)lazy c) in a hurry, or just some combination of the three. I think if they did draw a caricature of me, I'd confront them about it with either praise or disparagement, depending on their execution. Do people really use their real name anyway?