“Starbucks Is Getting Desperate”: Starbucks And Kim Kardashian Under Fire Amidst Global Boycott
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Kim Kardashian and Starbucks are under fire after allegedly plotting a PR stunt to counter $11 billion loss following global calls for boycott.
The 43-year-old reality TV star was spotted on Sunday (December 17), stepping out for a coffee run in the upscale neighborhood of Calabasas in Los Angeles.
Kim showcased her very slim waist in a white crop top with low-slung leather trousers, as she carried a tiny black snakeskin Hermes Kelly bag, her mobile phone, and a festive red Starbucks cup, all in one hand.
The entrepreneur’s drive to the coffee chain, using her $185,000 silver Mercedes-Maybach S580 (as per the Daily Mail), wouldn’t appear to be groundbreaking news at first if it wasn’t for the massive boycott calls against Starbucks that have been spreading like wildfire worldwide.
Kim Kardashian and Starbucks are under fire after allegedly plotting a PR stunt to counter an $11 billion loss following global calls for a boycott
Image credits: vidapress
Boycott calls against the multinational coffeehouse are stemming from a series of issues, with the main one concerning lawsuits involving its union.
Starbucks and the union organizing its workers have been suing each other in federal court over a social media post that was sent out by employees supporting Palestinians in light of the Israel-Hamas war, NorthJersey.com reported.
Image credits: kimkardashian
The coffeehouse chain reportedly sued Starbucks Workers United in federal court in October, alleging trademark infringement after the union sent out a social media post saying “Solidarity with Palestine!” a few weeks after the Hamas attack against Israel, which took place on October 7.
Starbucks Workers United subsequently countersued Starbucks, asking a federal court in Pennsylvania to rule that it can continue using its name and similar logo and saying “Starbucks defamed the union by implying that it supports terrorism and violence,” NorthJersey explained.
The calls for a boycott haven’t been confirmed as the reason for Starbucks’ huge decrease in market value, although they can’t be completely ruled out as a cause
Moreover, the multinational company reportedly distanced itself from the workers’ union’s pro-Palestinian stance, putting out an official statement that read: “We unequivocally condemn these acts of terrorism, hate, and violence, and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members.”
With the Israel government’s military operations in Gaza being denounced as genocide, hundreds of protests erupting worldwide calling for a ceasefire, and over 20,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, as of Friday, December 22, Starbucks’ official statement has sparked public outrage that has continuously grown at a rapid rate.
Image credits: Meech
Since last week, the TikTok data center shows that the hashtag #boycottstarbucks has been used in 760 posts. In total, the hashtag has generated over 183 million views on TikTok.
Meanwhile, the Seattle-based coffee company’s share price has seen a sharp decline since mid-November, falling by about nine percent, meaning a decline of some $11 billion in its market cap, Vox reported. Other outlets have reported a $12 billion decline.
Siye Desta, equity analyst at CFRA Research, told the publication: “Starbucks’s stock is experiencing a historic losing streak, influenced by a confluence of factors.”
“Starbucks’s stock is experiencing a historic losing streak, influenced by a confluence of factors,” an equity analyst said
Image credits: Dom J
The calls for a boycott haven’t been confirmed as the reason for Starbucks’ huge decrease in market value, although they can’t be completely ruled out as a cause.
Sara Senatore, senior research analyst at Bank of America, told Vox: “I don’t think it’s the protests that are driving this.” The timeline on foot traffic declines doesn’t really line up with the boycotts, she said. Plus, Starbucks is no stranger to controversy. “This is not the first time that we’ve seen this kind of activity, and so it’s hard, in my view, to conclude that’s the reason that traffic has been so slow.”
With Kim’s seemingly suspicious timing of stepping out in public with a Starbucks cup in hand, many TikTokers were quick to point at a potential PR stunt
@toris.intel #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen kim kardashian starbucks pap walk #kimkardashian #boycottstarbucks #popculture #publicrelations #prstunt #celebs #popculturenews ♬ Carmen Habanera, classical opera(1283412) – perfectpanda
Nick Setyan, an equity research analyst at Wedbush, further stated: “The boycotts … could be making a little bit of a difference on the margin, a very small impact. I don’t see that having a lasting impact.”
With Kim’s seemingly suspicious timing of stepping out in public with a Starbucks cup in hand, many people on social media were quick to point at a potential PR stunt.
“Did you think we wouldn’t notice?” TikToker Robyn said in a video on the video hosting service. She continued: “You think the leather pants and a crop top for the Starbucks cup is gonna get people to come back on board?”
“What’s happening here is that Starbucks is getting desperate,” comedian Nasser Al-Rayess theorized
@naw_sir Starbucks trying to influence like its 2012 😂 #starbucks #kimkardashian #nawsir ♬ original sound – Nasser Al-Rayess
Tori, a public relations and branding strategist, took to her TikTok page to analyze Kim’s Starbucks paparazzi shots. She said in a video: “I’m not surprised. But in the middle of a boycott, Kim?”
Comedian Nasser Al-Rayess also took to his TikTok page to comment on the situation. In a video, he asked viewers: “Do you think this is a normal photo of Kim K holding a Starbucks Cup?”
Nasser went on to point to an episode of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop podcast, to which Kim was invited. At the time, the mom television star revealed that she wasn’t much of a coffee drinker.
The comedian further theorized: “What’s happening here, is that Starbucks is getting desperate,” before suggesting that the coffeehouse chain was trying to influence people to buy their product by sponsoring Kim.
Seeing the Skims boss has nearly never been spotted in such paparazzi shots, where she has held a Starbucks cup in hand, with the last known picture of this kind dating back to 2020, the theories aren’t such an improbable stretch.
“They’re doing it because they know that celebrities still have some type of pull with people,” user ItsRobyn said
@itsrobyn__ Dont fall for it! Keep the Boycott GOING! #itsrobyn__ #stirthepotrobyn #pumaparty #greenscreen #blackgirltiktok #kimkardashian #kimkardashianwest #starbucks #prstunt #fakepr #thekardashians ♬ original sound – 🍉Robyn🍉
When asked about the claims made online that such a PR stunt had been orchestrated, using Kim Kardashian, a spokesperson from Starbucks told Bored Panda: “This is not accurate, we did not coordinate with Kim or her team on this visit to our store.”
Moreover, Starbucks’ CEO recently wrote an open letter where he stated: “We see protestors influenced by misrepresentation on social media of what we stand for. We have worked with local authorities to ensure our partners and customers are safe. Nothing is more important. Our stance is clear. We stand for humanity.”
Speaking to Snopes about its litigation with the union, Starbucks said: “To be clear, Starbucks respects Defendants’ right to express their viewpoints about the conflict in the Middle East and other political and social issues; Starbucks does not bring this action to stifle their speech or express a view on Defendants’ positions or those issues.
“Instead, Starbucks brings this action to protect the safety of those working in its retail locations around the world, and to halt the damage to its business that has resulted from Defendants’ misuse of Starbucks name and logos when expressing their view.”
Many people speculated about a potential PR stunt run by Starbucks
Can anyone explain to me like I was five why is this woman such a Big Deal? Apparently her only talent is being hot, but IMO she's not even THAT hot, in the sense that I wouldn't be able to recognize her among 10 other basic Instagram "influencers".
No, can't help there, makes zero sense. It's all just an absurd point in space and time and I gotta headache.
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If SB thinks KK will bring more people into their stores, they're completely delusional. Most of us run the other way if a kar-crash-jenner is involved in something.
Words and words and words and words, and if the key words that put this in context were there I couldn’t find them. And those words would be whether she’s been a regular customer, or if she hasn’t previously been seen there with any frequency. Without knowing that, there’s no way to form a valid opinion. (About it being a stunt or an anti-Starbucks campaign. A separate question from that of the validity of the boycott.)
Never a fan of either. But not surprising. She broke picket lines working on American Horror Story during the writers strike this year. Stand with the workers!
Just an FYI: Starbucks is being boycotted for two reasons I can find. 1) Starbucks has shown itself to be virulently anti-union and is guilty of illegal union busting activities, and 2) apparently, the recent tensions in the Israeli-Hamas War have created a lawsuit between Starbucks and the Starbucks Workers Union. The company is pro-Israel, but its union members support the Palestinians, and made a social media post that said “Solidarity with Palestine”. Well, Starbucks didn’t like that, so tried to sue the union over trademark infringement because the union name contains the word “Starbucks” and the union logo is similar to the Starbucks logo—-probably because, you know, they’re quite specifically the Starbucks Workers Union. The union is now countersuing Starbucks for defamation, as the company implied the Union supports terrorism and violence (tbh, I wouldn’t doubt that Starbucks is playing dirty here). The crazy part of this whole thing is that boycotts of Starbucks are being called for and carried out by people on both sides of the issue. However, the crux of the whole damned mess is Starbucks’ own dirty fight against its workers’ attempts to unionize. Had the company not been so nasty about it, and had they been treating their employees well enough that none of them would’ve wanted to unionize in the first place, it’s likely none of this would’ve happened. It’s not the Union’s fault that the company is bleeding money this Christmas. It’s the company’s own damned fault, and now they’re paying the con$equence$ of it. But they still, in a very immature and trumpy sort of way, act like there are no flies on them by making false insinuations and pointing fingers to try to throw someone else—-namely, the Union—-under the bus for it. I used to think Starbucks was trying to be a different kind of corporation; one that was fair and equitable, and treated its employees really well, because that’s what people I met who worked for them said they were like. What a damned shame that Starbucks let itself down by becoming exactly like all the other nasty, greedy, and unethical corporations out there. PS-It’s quite obvious the wealthy Kardashian clan is pro-republican, so of course Kim would happily perform a stunt for Starbucks, which has now become pro-republican itself.
Starbucks advertised in Leave The World Behind on Netflix with Julia Roberts which is out now but filmed way before all this drama. I think this was all a co ordinated marketing campaign and people are reading too much into it. That being said, the movie is complete and utter c**p in its premise, execution and the storyline made me want to yeet my remote at the screen when it finally revealed itself. It was just ludicrous. Anyhoo, not sorry Starbucks is being boycotted, not caring about why really, thats a conflated cesspool of reasoning, just, see ya, garbage company.
What's Starbucks done? I don't go there anyway but I'm curious
I believe it has to do with the Israeli genocide on Palestinians
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Crazy thought. How about a world where people just sell you stuff and don't take sides in things that have nothing to do with them. Why is it important for an American muti-national corporation and a fledgling union to have any position at all in a regional conflict in a place where that company doesn't even have restaurants. I'd like my overpriced burnt coffee without a side of international politics please. It's a terrible, tragic situation which has nothing at all to do with a coffee company.
Starbucks and the K family all treat the working class like garbage to be used. Starbucks: Pay your workers a living wage and treat them with respect! ONLY THEN will people support your brand. Kartrashians: You are all fake AF. Just go away. The only thing lower than the K family is the ground they walk on.
Friendly reminder that they hired the Pinkertons in the recent past
If anything, you have LOST my business now. Nobody is into the karTRASHians...
Still waiting/hoping for a volcanic eruption to wipe out all humanity!
she is famous because she and her then boyfriend filmed their sexcapades. when hilton's sex tape was leaked, her mother saw dollar signs! her mom, kim, WATCHED HER DAUGHTER"S SEX TAPES to see which one was the most "marketable" and then "leaked" it to the media. ever since, she has who--d her daughets for fame and money.
Can anyone explain to me like I was five why is this woman such a Big Deal? Apparently her only talent is being hot, but IMO she's not even THAT hot, in the sense that I wouldn't be able to recognize her among 10 other basic Instagram "influencers".
No, can't help there, makes zero sense. It's all just an absurd point in space and time and I gotta headache.
Load More Replies... If SB thinks KK will bring more people into their stores, they're completely delusional. Most of us run the other way if a kar-crash-jenner is involved in something.
Words and words and words and words, and if the key words that put this in context were there I couldn’t find them. And those words would be whether she’s been a regular customer, or if she hasn’t previously been seen there with any frequency. Without knowing that, there’s no way to form a valid opinion. (About it being a stunt or an anti-Starbucks campaign. A separate question from that of the validity of the boycott.)
Never a fan of either. But not surprising. She broke picket lines working on American Horror Story during the writers strike this year. Stand with the workers!
Just an FYI: Starbucks is being boycotted for two reasons I can find. 1) Starbucks has shown itself to be virulently anti-union and is guilty of illegal union busting activities, and 2) apparently, the recent tensions in the Israeli-Hamas War have created a lawsuit between Starbucks and the Starbucks Workers Union. The company is pro-Israel, but its union members support the Palestinians, and made a social media post that said “Solidarity with Palestine”. Well, Starbucks didn’t like that, so tried to sue the union over trademark infringement because the union name contains the word “Starbucks” and the union logo is similar to the Starbucks logo—-probably because, you know, they’re quite specifically the Starbucks Workers Union. The union is now countersuing Starbucks for defamation, as the company implied the Union supports terrorism and violence (tbh, I wouldn’t doubt that Starbucks is playing dirty here). The crazy part of this whole thing is that boycotts of Starbucks are being called for and carried out by people on both sides of the issue. However, the crux of the whole damned mess is Starbucks’ own dirty fight against its workers’ attempts to unionize. Had the company not been so nasty about it, and had they been treating their employees well enough that none of them would’ve wanted to unionize in the first place, it’s likely none of this would’ve happened. It’s not the Union’s fault that the company is bleeding money this Christmas. It’s the company’s own damned fault, and now they’re paying the con$equence$ of it. But they still, in a very immature and trumpy sort of way, act like there are no flies on them by making false insinuations and pointing fingers to try to throw someone else—-namely, the Union—-under the bus for it. I used to think Starbucks was trying to be a different kind of corporation; one that was fair and equitable, and treated its employees really well, because that’s what people I met who worked for them said they were like. What a damned shame that Starbucks let itself down by becoming exactly like all the other nasty, greedy, and unethical corporations out there. PS-It’s quite obvious the wealthy Kardashian clan is pro-republican, so of course Kim would happily perform a stunt for Starbucks, which has now become pro-republican itself.
Starbucks advertised in Leave The World Behind on Netflix with Julia Roberts which is out now but filmed way before all this drama. I think this was all a co ordinated marketing campaign and people are reading too much into it. That being said, the movie is complete and utter c**p in its premise, execution and the storyline made me want to yeet my remote at the screen when it finally revealed itself. It was just ludicrous. Anyhoo, not sorry Starbucks is being boycotted, not caring about why really, thats a conflated cesspool of reasoning, just, see ya, garbage company.
What's Starbucks done? I don't go there anyway but I'm curious
I believe it has to do with the Israeli genocide on Palestinians
Load More Replies... Crazy thought. How about a world where people just sell you stuff and don't take sides in things that have nothing to do with them. Why is it important for an American muti-national corporation and a fledgling union to have any position at all in a regional conflict in a place where that company doesn't even have restaurants. I'd like my overpriced burnt coffee without a side of international politics please. It's a terrible, tragic situation which has nothing at all to do with a coffee company.
Starbucks and the K family all treat the working class like garbage to be used. Starbucks: Pay your workers a living wage and treat them with respect! ONLY THEN will people support your brand. Kartrashians: You are all fake AF. Just go away. The only thing lower than the K family is the ground they walk on.
Friendly reminder that they hired the Pinkertons in the recent past
If anything, you have LOST my business now. Nobody is into the karTRASHians...
Still waiting/hoping for a volcanic eruption to wipe out all humanity!
she is famous because she and her then boyfriend filmed their sexcapades. when hilton's sex tape was leaked, her mother saw dollar signs! her mom, kim, WATCHED HER DAUGHTER"S SEX TAPES to see which one was the most "marketable" and then "leaked" it to the media. ever since, she has who--d her daughets for fame and money.
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