Starbucks Barista Fired After Racist Message on Charlie Kirk’s Favourite Drink
cincinnati, donderdag, 25 september 2025.
A Starbucks barista in Ohio has been fired after a customer found a racist message on the cup of their favourite drink, which belongs to conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The incident, which took place in a Kroger store, has garnered significant attention and sparked debates about discrimination and political tensions in the service industry. The customer, Autumn Perkins, shared the story on social media, which resulted in thousands of reactions. Both Starbucks and Kroger have fired the involved barista and reaffirmed their policies against negative messages.
Incident in Ohio
The incident occurred at a Starbucks location within a Kroger store in Middletown, Ohio, where a customer, Autumn Perkins, discovered a racist message on her cup. Perkins had ordered a ‘blonde mint majesty tea with two honeys’, the favourite drink of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The cup read: ‘Racist’s Fav’ Drink’ [1][2][3]. Perkins was shocked by the message and reported the incident to Kroger management, leading to the firing of the involved barista [1][2][3].
Reactions and Measures
Perkins shared the incident on social media, which generated thousands of responses from both supporters and critics. She expressed her disappointment with Starbucks and stated that she would boycott the chain. “I will not spend another penny at Starbucks and I will encourage my family and others to do the same,” she said [1][2][3]. Both Starbucks and Kroger have reaffirmed their policies against negative messages and confirmed the termination of the involved barista [1][2][3].
Context and Background
Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist whose name was on the cup, was fatally shot on 10 September 2025 during an event at Utah Valley University [2]. This tragic incident has further heightened political tensions in the United States. The Starbucks incident is not the first of its kind. Earlier this month, a barista in California refused to write ‘Charlie Kirk’ on a cup, stating that she does not write political names on cups [4].
Official Statements
Starbucks issued a statement condemning the barista’s actions: “Writing this on a cup is unacceptable, and we have clear policies that prohibit negative messages to help preserve a welcoming environment.” Kroger also confirmed the termination: “The individual involved is no longer employed. This behaviour does not reflect Kroger’s values.” [1][2][3].
Political Implications
This incident has further fuelled existing political tensions in the service sector. Many customers and employees have voiced their opinions on social media, leading to heated debates. Some view it as a form of discrimination, while others see it as a sign of increasing polarisation in society [1][2][3].
Follow-up Actions
Following the incident, Kroger has hired armed security guards to monitor some of their Starbucks counters [3]. Starbucks has also issued a more detailed statement explaining their policy regarding the writing of names on cups. According to Starbucks, baristas are not allowed to write political, religious, or personal messages on cups, even if requested by customers [4].