Less than a week after Starbucks premiered the highly anticipated 2015 holiday cup (known to Starbucks lovers everywhere as the "red cup") the brand is facing serious backlash for it's design.
This year's cup, which features a red ombré design, is decidedly simpler than cups of Christmases past. Customers expecting to find holiday-related doodles like snowflakes and reindeer were not only disappointed to find an almost completely plain red cup, but furious.
The flurry of excited #RedCups tweets has quickly been overshadowed by a snowstorm of #MerryChristmasStarbucks rants and complaints. Those using the tag say the coffee giant is refusing to acknowledge Christmas, Christianity and Jesus Christ.
Those who are really outraged have even started to take action offline. In the below video posted to Facebook, former television and radio evangelist Joshua Feuerstein encourages other dissatisfied customers to go to Starbucks and tell baristas that their order name is "Merry Christmas." The idea behind the movement is that Starbucks will be forced to write the greeting on the plain red cups, and even say it out loud when they call out that the beverage is ready.
[facebook ]https://www.facebook.com/joshua.feuerstein.5/videos/vb.443476065755081/689569711145714/?type=2&theater[/facebook]
The brand has already responded to the accusations by releasing this statement: "Starbucks has become a place of sanctuary during the holidays. We're embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it. It's [a] more open way to usher in the holiday."
The design did feel a little lackluster after the release of the brand's first ever "fall cup" this September, which was covered in hand-drawn leaves, acorns, and other seasonal symbols. But, if you're thinking this whole #MerryChristmasStarbucks thing is being blown out of proportion, you are definitely not alone.
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