Black woman reports getting cup with ‘monkey’ printed as customer’s name at Maryland Starbucks

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A Starbuck worker is suspended, and an investigation is underway after a Maryland girl reported that the phrase “monkey” was printed because the buyer’s identify on her cup.

Monique Pugh mentioned the incident occurred on November 19 at a Starbucks retailer in Annapolis Mall.

In accordance with Pugh, she was the one Black girl in line on the time that the label was printed.

After the incident, Pugh says she alerted the baristas to the phrase printed as her identify. In response, she says, one of many baristas provided a nonchalant response saying it was a mistake.

Pugh then requested for a refund, and left the shop to name Starbuck’s customer support.

She says the shop’s basic supervisor referred to as her again, and provided her an apology together with a free drink and sandwich, which she declined.

In response, FOX 5 reached out to Starbucks concerning the incident for a press release.

The corporate says they’re working with the shop, which is a licensee location owned by Impeccable Manufacturers, to analyze the matter.

You possibly can learn the complete assertion beneath:

“We would like everybody in our shops – together with each Starbucks operated and people operated by our licensees – to deal with one another with dignity and respect. We don’t tolerate conduct that’s disrespectful or makes a buyer really feel unwelcome. We’re conscious of the incident that occurred at a retailer operated by our licensee Impeccable Manufacturers in Annapolis, MD, and we’re working intently with their management workforce as they shortly conduct the investigation with their worker(s) and take any needed motion because of this.”

The corporate additionally provides that they’re taking steps to make sure offensive phrases can’t be printed on future order labels.

FOX 5 additionally reached out to Impeccable Manufacturers concerning the incident. The shop’s possession says the barista concerned within the incident, who Pugh recognized as a girl named Tina, has been suspended pending an additional investigation

The assertion says that the phrase was printed as a mistake, however they’re working to ensure it doesn’t occur once more.

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You possibly can learn the complete assertion beneath:

“As a licensee of Starbucks, we’re dedicated to upholding the mission and values of the Starbucks model in our buyer interactions and enterprise operations. We’re conscious of the regrettable incident that occurred at our retailer in Annapolis, Maryland. We now have suspended the worker concerned on this incident pending additional investigation, and have communicated our deepest apologies to the shopper for this unfavorable interplay. We consider, following our preliminary investigation, that the label was made in error. Nonetheless, this isn’t the nice and cozy and welcoming expertise we wish to create for our clients and we’re actively working to make sure this doesn’t occur once more. We’re exploring different alternatives to higher practice our workers in understanding cultural and racial sensitivities, to make sure all future interactions are welcoming and inclusive.”

Pugh says the incident left her “traumatized, saddened, and disillusioned,” and he or she additionally raised concern about how Starbuck trains its staff.

“To study that the barista Tina who referred to me as a “monkey” accomplished the racial bias coaching which means that she was conscious of her actions and the implications that may comply with,” Pugh says. “I want to see this matter addressed promptly, and I need the racial discrimination to cease.”