A group of Christian evangelists gripes that Starbucks is waging a “war on Christmas” by removing holiday images from its seasonal cup design.
Instead of the usual array of decorative images such as Christmas trees and snowflakes that have adorned the coffee cups in holidays past, the corporation has chosen to take a more minimal approach and made the cups a simple red with their green and white logo.
“Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus,” said Joshua Feuerstein in a viral Facebook post that garnered nearly 10.5 million views since Thursday.
He urged Christians to voice their distaste with the company through social media with the hashtag #MerryChristmasStarbucks. Photos of the bare red cups with the handwritten message “Merry Christmas” soon started popping up all over social media, and more religious leaders began venting their frustrations with the franchise.
“I’m officially banning Starbucks from my life,” wrote student pastor Nate Weaver from Crosspointe Christian Church in Sarasota, Fla., in a Facebook post Saturday.
The Seattle-based beverage company first began implementing holiday designs in 1997, donning a “jazzy Santa” on the cups exterior, according to a Starbucks statement.
However, this year the company wanted to try out a more inclusive design.
“This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories,” said Starbucks’ Vice President of Design & Content Jeffrey Fields.
“We’re embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it.”