By News18

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Starbucks has clarified that customers are free to use the name of late US conservative activist Charlie Kirk when ordering drinks, after a video of a California barista declining to write it on a cup sparked criticism online.
The clip, which quickly went viral on TikTok, shows a woman ordering a Mint Majesty tea, reportedly a favourite of Kirk, who was shot dead on September 10 at the age of 31.
When she asked for “Charlie Kirk” to be written on her cup as a tribute, the barista refused, saying company policy barred “political names”.
“I could write ‘Charlie,’” the employee offered, explaining that the register hadn’t even requested a name.
When the customer pressed for the full name, the barista repeated, “Because it’s political,” and proceeded with the order.
The customer ultimately asked to cancel it.
In a caption to the video, she accused the employee of introducing politics into the exchange.
The video drew thousands of comments and prompted a surge of negative reviews aimed at the Starbucks branch in Yucaipa, California.
Some reviewers called for staff training, while others claimed the refusal was unprofessional.
Starbucks Issues Statement
Responding to the controversy, Starbucks stated on Friday that there is “no restriction on customers using Charlie Kirk’s name on their order” and that the company is “following up with our team.”
A more detailed statement released underscored Starbucks’ long-standing practice of using names to create a personal connection with customers.
“When a customer wants to use a different name—including the name Charlie Kirk—when ordering their drink, we aim to respect their preference,” the company said.
Starbucks acknowledged that it had previously advised staff to politely discourage customers from using overtly political slogans, offensive words, or phrases intended to provoke staff into saying them aloud.
“Over the years, some people have tried to abuse the system,” the company noted, but stressed that using a person’s name—even a public figure’s—does not violate its policy.
The company added that it strives to remain “a community coffeehouse where everyone feels welcome,” and that the guidance to employees was never meant to prevent customers from writing the name of an individual, such as Charlie Kirk, on their cup.