Starbucks faces Backlash for new Advertisement Promoting Transgender Acceptance in India

New Delhi (India), 13th April 2023: Starbucks has recently produced a commercial that has stirred controversy and generated major attention while the topic of legalising same-sex marriage is still pending before the Supreme Court, raising anticipation and fear within the LGBTQ community.

A scene in a Starbucks advertising depicts a couple from an urban town waiting for their child, Arpit, who has transitioned to identify as female and changed their name to Arpita. The father appears to be upset by their child’s decision, while the mother attempts to calm him by saying, “Please don’t get angry this time, listen.”

Arpita then enters the coffee shop and embraces her mother tenderly before approaching her father. They exchange a quiet smile.

Then Arpita says to her dad, “I know it’s been years, but you still mean the world to me.”Arpita says this while glancing at her father. Her father pauses for a bit, then stands up and asks Aprita if she needs a coffee, to which Aprita nods. Dad places the order and returns to the table, hoping to strike up a new topic with Arpita. At that juncture, the coffee shop employee exclaims, ‘3 cold coffees for Aprita!’

She then returns her gaze to her father, her eyes full with astonishment and relief that he has finally come to accept her decision.

The Starbucks logo and the hashtag ‘#ItStartsWithYourName’ are presented at the end of the advertisement.

The video was published on Twitter with the message that a person’s name determines who they are, regardless of whether it is Arpit or Arpita. Starbucks emphasises their love and acceptance for all people who are true to themselves.

However, despite this beautiful message, Starbucks is facing widespread backlash for the ad. Transphobic and people opposing the impending verdict took to Twitter to express their displeasure.

One user said, “It encourages people for s€x change which is unnaturaI. Starbucks is popular among teens, so it will directly target the Gen Z. Since Starbucks is encouraging it, people will find it posh & try to copy without telling their parents. Will create rifts between parents & children…(sic).”

Another person also replied to the ad, “I am a huge starbucks fan. But still i can’t believe why @StarbucksIndia would launch a woke campaign in the name of advertisement ? Can’t they just market their coffee and service to India. Who designs such campaigns to guilt trip people which don’t appeal/apply to even 0.1 % Indians.”