Starbucks: Customer accuses coffee chain of racial insults

United States
“Monkey” was written on her cup: a customer accuses the Starbucks coffee chain of racial insults

Monique Pugh received a coffee mug with her name written on it as “Monkey” at a Starbucks store in Maryland. In the US, this is an offensive term for black people.

Stupid mistake or racial slur? A woman from Annapolis, Maryland, and the coffee chain Starbucks are currently at odds. As usual, Monique Pugh wanted to buy a Frappucino in a branch in her hometown. She ordered, gave the barista her name and waited. When she took her order, however, she experienced a shock: it wasn’t her name on the plastic cup, but “Monkey” – Ape.

She sensed something had gone wrong when another employee tried to call her. “I see from a distance a barista lift the cup, give it a weird look and then just shout ‘Venti Caramel Frappucino’ and back off.” Normally the order is not called out, but the first name of the customer, which was written on the cup with Edding when the order was accepted.

Starbucks coffee labeled “Monkey”

Monique Pugh suspects the employee didn’t mean to shout the offensive term that was written on the mug. “Monkey” is considered a derogatory term for black people in particular – and the woman states that she was the only black person in the coffee chain’s store at the time. “It was one of those moments when your heart slips into your pants and you just think: Excuse me?” She tells “Insider”.

She also found that her coffee order had not been filled properly either. When she complained to one of the employees and also showed the cup with the insulting writing, she was treated dismissively. “Other customers stared at me, I was just ashamed,” said the shocked customer.

employee was suspended

Starbucks has since commented on the incident. Although an investigation has shown that it was an “accident”, all employees of the branch concerned are now receiving special training again, the word “Monkey” may no longer be written down as a name on cups – and the employee, which had taken Monique Pugh’s order was suspended. “We hope these actions show that we take the incident very seriously,” the statement said.

Source: “Insider”