What Starbucks Said After Staff Refused To Write 'Charlie Kirk' On Cup

Starbucks has responded to public outrage after a California barista "refused" to write "Charlie Kirk" on a cup, citing the company's policy. The exchange, which has gone viral on TikTok, sparked discussion on the American coffeehouse chain's policies regarding political expression, names, and messages.

Kirk, a right-wing political activist, was assassinated on September 10 at a public event in Orem, Utah.

In a now-viral TikTok video, a customer who ordered Mint Majesty - a beverage reportedly liked by the late Turning Point USA co-founder - asked for Kirk's name to be written on the cup. The barista refused, stating that political names were not allowed at Starbucks.

Starbucks programmed their printers to not print the name Charlie Kirk

Americans are ordering Charlie Kirk's favorite Starbucks drink in his honor

???? The Starbucks employee CONFIRMS their system has been programmed to ban the name Charlie Kirk (WOW) “The sticker won't print” pic.twitter.com/hEw7y1JchF

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) September 16, 2025

"We cannot use political names, but it [the register] did not even ask for a name to begin with, so it's going to be $3.75," the barista told the customer, according to The Independent.

"Starbucks refused to write or say Charlie Kirk's name. I never went in discussing politics, just mentioned his name to have it written on my cup to honour him," the woman in the video claimed.

On September 16, Starbucks issued an explanation, saying it was okay to write a name, even the name of a prominent politician like Charlie Kirk. "When a customer wants to use a different name ... we aim to respect their preference," it said.

Starbucks clarified that it does not have an issue with customers who ask for a name but rather with those who try to substitute slogans, politically charged sentiments, or objectionable content.

"Having a name, rather than a number, attached to a customer order has been a core part of the Starbucks coffeehouse experience for decades," it explained in its official statement.

According to Starbucks, there have been instances in the past when patrons have asked baristas to write political statements on their cups. "And in some cases, as their 'name,' they provided words that are sexually explicit or otherwise offensive," it added.

Starbucks added that if the suggested wording on the cup appears to stray into political slogans or derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate language, baristas are instructed by current guidelines to "respectfully ask the customer to use a different name."

But the company made it clear that "names, on their own, can be used by customers on their cafe order, as they wish."