With its new “woke” ad, Starbucks India has caused anger and calls to stop doing business with the company. In the company’s newest ad, parents hug their transgender daughter at a Starbucks, which some people find touching and others find offensive.
The video shows a dad who has a hard time accepting his child’s change, but in the end he does. In the last part of the ad, the dad orders a drink using his daughter’s new name. “Your name defines who you are…” Starbucks India wrote on Twitter about the film. We love and accept you for who you are at Starbucks.
Some people say that Starbucks is “going full Bud Light,” which means that the company puts progressive ideas ahead of what customers want. This backlash makes me think about business social responsibility and how sensitive consumers can be.
Some say the ad promotes acceptance and inclusion, while others say it turns people off. There have been heated arguments on social media about the issue.
As people respond, one writer says, “I’m officially done buying Starbucks coffee” in answer to the sign. The calls for boycotts show how hard it is for businesses to deal with complicated social problems.
What do you think? Should businesses focus on being welcoming or stay away from controversial topics?
