Starbucks India on Thursday had to face the wrath of social media after it shared a promotional video cum campaign supporting the LGBTQ+ community and tried to spread awareness at a time when the Supreme Court of India is hearing the case of same-sex marriage. Starbucks India shared the video assuming it might win people's hearts, however, all it attracted was #BoycottStarbucks.In fact with more than a thousand tweets (while waiting), #BoycottStarbucks was among the top trending trends on Twitter. Now, the question arises why #Boycottstarbucks was trending or #BoycottStarbucks trending reason? To know the answer continue reading-
Starbucks India on May 10, 2023, took to its Twitter handle and shared a promotional video wjth the caption saying, "Your name defines who you are - whether it's Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us." The video revolves around a father and a mother who can be seen waiting for their child in Starbucks. While the mother looks over energetic and tries to keep the father patient, they continue to wait. The mother then says to call 'Arpit'. The father then calls 'Aprit' in which an image of a boy shows. Then finally Arpit arrives, but he has changed his gender. Now, Aprit goes by the name of Arpita. Seeing the video, it suggests that the father at first did not accept his son's decision to convert himself into 'Arpita', however, he finally accepted Aprit's sexuality. While the company has intended to give a positive message in the society, it has earned ire from netizens on social, media.
Watch Starbucks India Video
Your name defines who you are - whether it's Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. #ItStartsWithYourName. 💚 pic.twitter.com/DKNGhKZ1Hg
— Starbucks India (@StarbucksIndia) May 10, 2023
What netizens have to say on Starbucks Ad?
A user wrote, "What does selling coffee got to do with gender, unless you want to run a #SexChange propaganda in India."
What does selling coffee got to do with gender, unless you want to run a #SexChange propaganda in India. #BoycottStarBucks https://t.co/JR79dzPOfv
— Latha (@DrlathaC) May 11, 2023
Another user wrote, "Starbucks better mind its business and stop spreading its pro-gay stand with Hindus lest it forget that it's only Hindus that can afford and help run it's business but can wipe it off too! So Beware!!
Sell coffee not your Gay/ LGBTQ Agenda."
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"@StarbucksIndia confine yourself to selling overpriced coffees. We are not interested in your woke ideology," wrote another user.
Another user added, "People Boycotting Starbucks they don't know Starbucks is #tata product. Means you are boycotting Tata directly."
Same-Sex Marriage Hearing in Supreme Court
The debate around Same-Sex Marriage is intensifying day by day as the Supreme Court of India is hearing a PIL into the same. While the Government of India wants to discuss it in Parliament before making any law on it, the top court continues to hear the subject. On Thursday, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court reserved judgment on a batch of pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriage. The bench comprised Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices SK Kaul, SR Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha. The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it had received responses from seven states on the plea to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages. Three states — Rajasthan, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh have opposed the plea, while the remaining four Sikkim, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur have sought more time