Starbucks pulls posters from stores in France after some call them racist

The poster depicts a drawing of a dark-skinned man surrounded by a backpack, a cell phone, a day planner and a laptop computer. The text reads: “Be on guard against unusual behavior from a stranger. Don’t let pickpockets spoil your moment of relaxation at Starbucks. Keep an eye on your belongings.” Starbucks says the guy is a watchful customer, but others believe the man is the pickpocket. The coffee giant has pulled the posters from stores. I think it's a dumb controversy, but Starbucks was smart to end it quickly. > Starbucks pulls posters from stores in France after some call them racist

Comments

[Mark]

This is just F**kins ridiculous. What about the white woman right beside him? Black people are to dam sensitive. They are the people that keep racism going, I couldn't care less what color someones skin is, nor would i even notice it in poster. So what are these people saying? Every single poster and add depicting crime can ONLY have white people in it? Who is the F**king racists now? Get over it and grow up you idiots.

[TV James]

So... The customers are racists? This poster is clearly an attempt to be inclusive.

Perhaps the male should have been white and the female dark-skinned.

Or they should have used Muppets as race-neutral and gotten Disney to sponsor the posters as a tie-in to the new movie.

[Steve]

He may be "darker" skinned than the female, but only in comparison to the female. He's still white.

[Ricardo McJiggis]

As a black man, I agree completely with Mark. All bad guys have to be white. White men are the only group left to pick on. Here's one: When's that last time you've seen anything but a cracker being a criminal, or the dumbass in *ANY* TV commercial? We all really know minorities commit most the crime, and we have our share of fools. It is an insult to we blacks to think we are as thin skinned as we act!

[and now this from our newsdesk]

More importantly, they have pancakes and brioche french toast in French Starbucks.

PANCAKES. AND FRENCH TOAST.

And all we get are stupid breakfast sandwiches.

[Denise]

Now I want pancakes and french toast at my Starbucks!

[InvaderZim]

It's France not America. Racism there is not the same as racism here. Unlike in the U.S., dark-skinned does not automatically equal black as Americans know it. Calling black people racist really does not apply in this case. It's a different society.

[baristamclane]

I was outraged (outraged!) when I discovered the stores in Singapore have waffles (jealous!).

[Coco]

Who knows, maybe the US stores will bring out the hashbrown patties next to pair with the Skinny Peppermint Mocha....Ummmmmmmmmm Nom Nom

[confused]

I have a question for starbucks employees-
My mom gave me one of those folded orange paper free drink cards when I was home last weekend, and I used it at starbucks this morning. The guy accepted it, but kind of stared at it then asked me which store I got it from. Are these not commonly accepted anymore?

[Waltie]

They are commonly accepted. That guy was just being a jerk.

[KATIE]

To be fair, I used to have customers who had DOZENS of the free rink vouchers. I mean, she would try to us eight of them at a time for her kids and friends and would have a stack of them in her purse. Scammers are everywhere man.

[Black Apron Boy]

@Mark....... Agreed hundred percent
@ and now this from our newsdesk................ Starbucks US has and may continue to test waffles and brioche. There are test market stores dotting the US that test/sell different products before they reach US sales. The SBux in northern Washington on I8 near Tulalip Casino is the biggest test market store in the states. They had full leaf teas and the like way before we did. They have tested both blueberry waffles, you'd warm in the oven and serve with syrup. They also tested two kinds of brioche that were frickin amazing. YOu get them warmed and they blew my mind. I miss the Mallorca sweet bread and those reminded me of that. Sooooo good. JUst wait and see

[spence]

Heads Up: There is a fake $50 Starbuck card being offered on Facebook. Also, there is a video about blonde coffee on Starbucks.com

[Matt]

Does anyone else remember the posters from 2004, when the "new" frappuccinos came out (Strawberry & Creme, Cafe Vanilla, ect...) There were two "racist" posters that Starbucks pulled a week after they were put up. One (my favorite) was a picture of two Frapps, a Vanilla Bean and a Cafe Vanilla. The caption read: Introducing Vanilla Bean and it's racier cousin. The implication was racier as in faster, more caffeine. But the picture was obvious. The other was a picture of the Strawberry & Creme with a caption that read: Strawberries and Creme: It's the new Black. Another innocent poster, unless you try to put a racial tone.
Sometimes you'd think a company as big as Starbucks, with all the Political Correctness going around, would have people that notice this kind of stuff. But, clearly, this is not the case! Can't wait for the next "oops".

[M]

Sounds like the customers are racist

[Mark Perkins]

Well this is stupid. Only racists could find this card racist.