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Starbucks under fire over holiday cups that 'feature same-sex couples' hands' Starbucks under fire over holiday cups that 'feature same-sex couples' hands'
(35 minutes later)
Starbucks new holiday cups are coming under fire for possibly depicting the hands of a lesbian couple. Starbucks' new holiday cups are coming under fire - for possibly depicting the hands of a lesbian couple.
Buzzfeed wrote that “while people who follow both Starbucks holiday cup news and LGBT issues celebrated the video, the ordinary Starbucks customer probably didn't realize the cup might have a gay agenda.” The holiday cup line was launched with a commercial showing a range of ages, races and sexualities. It ends with two women embracing over a cup of piping hot coffee.
The new holiday cup line includes a design featuring what appear to be two women’s hands. While it was celebrated by many, the simple display of inclusiveness has - sadly and predictably - led to outrage from some of the more closed-minded parts of the web. 
People have been drawing conclusions - some positive, some not - based on the accompanying advertisement. BuzzFeed wrote that “while people who follow both Starbucks holiday cup news and LGBT issues celebrated the video, the ordinary Starbucks customer probably didn't realize the cup might have a gay agenda.”
Set over cheery holiday music, the coffee giant had posted a holiday advertisement earlier this year featuring various cartoons people with a Christmas tree, presents, and two women standing across from each other holding hands over a cup of coffee. The campaign's opening line read: “The holidays mean something different for everyone.”
The campaign's opening line read: “The holidays mean something different for everyone.” But one Twitter user quoted a Bible verse as a criticism of the campaign, writing: “the new Starbucks cup has lesbian couple on it. Rom 1:26 ‘because of this, God gave them over to shameful lust'…”
One Twitter user quoted a Bible verse as a criticism of the campaign, writing: “the new Starbucks cup has lesbian couple on it. Rom 1:26 ‘because of this, God gave them over to shameful lust'…” And others used a clip for the ad or picture of the new cup with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks and some made it a political statement.
And others used a clip for the ad or picture of the new cup with the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks and some made it a political statement. Many of those calling for the boycott appear to also be against pod-based coffee maker manufacturer Keurig, which recently pulled its advertising from Fox News host Sean Hannity's programme after the right-leaning anchor interviewed Roy Moore, the Republican Alabama Senate candidate accused of child sex abuse. 
Many of those calling for the boycott appear to also be against pod-based coffee maker manufacturer Keurig, which recently pulled its advertising from Fox News host Sean Hannity's programme after the right-leaning anchor interviewed Roy Moore, the Republican Alabama Senate candidate accused of child sex abuse. 
The company has faced backlash the past two years for its holiday line from some of these same coffee drinkers who thought the previous plain red design was not celebrating the holidays enough.The company has faced backlash the past two years for its holiday line from some of these same coffee drinkers who thought the previous plain red design was not celebrating the holidays enough.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Seattle-based company's holiday cups and the first time featuring white space for customers to colour in themselves.  This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Seattle-based company's holiday cups and the first time featuring white space for customers to colour in themselves. 
Starbucks has not confirmed or denied anything but said in a statement it aims “to bring our customers an experience that inspires the spirit of the season, and we will continue to embrace and welcome customers from all backgrounds and religions in our stores around the world.”Starbucks has not confirmed or denied anything but said in a statement it aims “to bring our customers an experience that inspires the spirit of the season, and we will continue to embrace and welcome customers from all backgrounds and religions in our stores around the world.”
In the meantime, the holiday drinks list includes flavours like chestnut praline, caramel brulee, peppermint mocha, eggnog, and gingerbread.   In the meantime, the holiday drinks list includes flavours like chestnut praline, caramel brulee, peppermint mocha, eggnog, and gingerbread.