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The latest public relations gaff for Starbucks unfolded in Los Angeles County after a sheriff’s deputy claimed a barista handed him a coffee cup marked with a drawing of a pig on it.
Starbucks confirmed that the employee responsible has been fired, while stressing that the drawing was not intentionally directed at the deputy.
“This was unacceptable. We have reached out to the customer several times and to leaders in the Sheriff’s Department to apologize,” said Jaci Anderson, Starbucks’ Director of Global Communications. “Every customer should always be made to feel welcome in our stores.”
Anderson stated that the drawing was a reference to the meme “John Pork” rather than a targeted message aimed at law enforcement. She explained that the barista had been doodling on cups earlier in the day to boost morale among coworkers, and that a “series of unfortunate events” resulted in the cup being given to the deputy.
Deputy describes incident as disrespectful
The deputy, Brandon Longoria, said he was working a 16 hour shift when he received his unexpected porcine doodle. Longoria later described the encounter as a form of derogatory name calling on his personal social media.
“All I wanted was caffeine, but instead I left feeling uneasy,” he wrote.
Local law enforcement organizations reacted quickly. The sheriff’s department and the deputy union both criticized the incident. The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs issued a brief statement through its president Richard Pippin, who said, “We hope this was an isolated incident and not reflective of the community values on which Starbucks was founded.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna contacted Starbucks corporate security to raise concerns and request accountability. According to the department, he also spoke directly with the deputy and emphasized that disrespect toward sheriff personnel will not be condoned.
Starbucks highlights disciplinary action and history
The episode added to previous conflicts between the company and law enforcement organizations. In late 2019, a barista in Oklahoma wrote the word “PIG” on a coffee label belonging to an on duty police officer on Thanksgiving, and was fired after national criticism and an apology from Starbucks. Earlier in 2019 in Tempe, Arizona, Starbucks apologized again after an employee asked six uniformed police officers to move or leave a store due to another customer’s complaint.
Starbucks has continued efforts to reassure law enforcement and customers that such incidents are not representative of company policy or culture, while critics argue that the chain must remain attentive to customer experience in stores that serve a broad community. The company said it would continue outreach efforts following the "John Pork" episode.
