This is about as short-lived as a cold Frappuccino on a hot summer day.
Just one week after launching its “Race Together” campaign to “engage customers in conversation” about race relations, Starbucks will stop telling its employees to write the words “Race Together” on patrons’ coffee cups.
According to the Associated Press, Starbucks circulated a memo announcing its decision to halt the coffee cup portion of the campaign, which generated much backlash on social media and elsewhere.
“While there has been criticism of the initiative — and I know this hasn’t been easy for any of you — let me assure you that we didn’t expect universal praise,” wrote Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in the memo.
Nevertheless, Schultz explained that the coffee cups were meant to be “just the catalyst” for a broader discussion about race relations in America.
Though Starbucks customers won’t see words — other than their names — printed on their cups, the coffee company still plans to go forward with other aspects of the campaign, which will involve hosting forum discussions, increasing Starbucks’ presence in minority communities and producing special content in USA TODAY.
“Nothing is changing,” insisted company spokesman Jim Olson. “It’s all part of the cadence of the timeline we originally planned.”
At least two Fox News personalities will be disappointed by this news.
