Oh joy! Another holiday cup controversy

The specialty coffee company ruffled feathers this month with the debut of its holiday cup design: a nondescript red cup adorned only with the Starbucks logo – a look that many Evangelicals felt did not acknowledge the Christmas season.

“According to the company website, the first Starbucks holiday cup introduced in 1997 featured “… a jazz-themed design in jewel tones of deeper reds, greens and blues”.

Donald Trump has even said that “maybe” there should be a boycott against Starbucks (though there is a Starbucks in Trump Tower). “Seriously, I don’t care”. So those who think the holiday cups are just… well, cups… created their own hashtag, #ItsJustACup, poking fun at their cause. “The old cups had snowflakes and Santa’s sleigh and elves, you know – all the things you find in the Bible”. Those are, after all, purely secular symbols that have nothing to do with holiday’s religious foundation.

“If I become president, we’re all going to be saying “Merry Christmas” again – that, I can tell you”, Trump assured.

Despite the amount of backlash to his video, there is evidence online of a few people siding with Feuerstein.

Media has popularized Christian business-owners who discriminate against the LGBTQI community, but are so quick to defend their actions because it goes against their beliefs.

As in the case of all controversies, Dunkin’ Donuts released a statement about their cups for those who would portray this as a war between two companies over their holiday coffee cups.

“No more “Merry Christmas” at Starbucks”. In the past, their red cup designs have contained Christmas lights, reindeer, and creepy winking snowmen.

“SO I PRANKED THEM”, the post says, which includes a video clip shot in front of a Starbucks with Feuerstein clutching a holiday cup. The idea has been labelled the “War On Christmas” and has been promoted by conservative Christian commentators across the nation.

Even Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump weighed in on Monday, suggesting a Starbucks’ boycott.

However, one thing is sure: the conflict highlights the red cups’ cultural relevance and will help the Starbucks’ brand in the future.