Starbucks Criticized After It 'Removed Christmas' From Holiday Cups
(CBS) - Starbucks' new holiday cups are upsetting some Christians who are going online to say the plain-red design is a sign of the war on Christmas.
Some say the controversy was sparked by a former pastor's video posted to Facebook on November 5 in which he claims the cups are too politically correct.
"Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus … SO I PRANKED THEM … and they HATE IT!!!! #share
Use #MERRYCHRISTMASSTARBUCKS," said Joshua Feuerstein along video that has since viewed millions of times.
The company's previous cups featured Christmas images, including ornaments, snowmen, and reindeer.
Starbucks vice president Jeffrey Fields said in a statement on the company's website, this year the company "wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories."
#Starbucks holiday beverages return with #RedCups https://t.co/eFwFxAXS6k pic.twitter.com/aamOWbuGNc
— Starbucks News (@StarbucksNews) November 2, 2015
Many agree with Feuerstein and have followed his direction to use #MerryChristmasStarbucks on social media.
Im asking Starbucks to put Merry Christmas on my cup. #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/CuZIBxZ6oS
— Marsha Brady (@ElyonSpaGirl) November 6, 2015
But many people are also using the hashtag to downplay the controversy.
Christians need to calm down over the whole #merrychristmasstarbucks thing. It's just a cup!!! @Starbucks #coffee #starbucks
— Blue Snoot (@BlueSnoot) November 9, 2015
Tell us what you think in the poll below: