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- Published: May 12, 2023 16:22
New Delhi: Boycott campaigns have become a regular on Twitter. One cannot guess what ends up stepping on Netizens’ nerves and waking up the Boycott army.
And the latest one to come under the radar of the Boycott gang on Twitter is none other than the multinational coffee franchise Starbucks.
Starbucks India recently shared a new ad for their latest campaign #Itstartswithyourname. The advertisement tried to convey the message of acceptance and inclusivity for Transgender people.
The two minutes long ad begins with an elderly couple who are supposedly meeting their son Arpit after a long time. However, we instead see a young woman arriving and sitting at the table with them. It ends with the father accepting that his child has changed gender as the Barista calls out the Transgender person by his new name Arpita.
Watch the Controversial Ad below:
Your name defines who you are – whether it’s Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. #ItStartsWithYourName. ? pic.twitter.com/DKNGhKZ1Hg
— Starbucks India (@StarbucksIndia) May 10, 2023
Shortly after the two minutes long video was posted, Netizens began to trend Boycott Starbucks on Twitter.
One user wrote,” Starbucks is not promoting acceptability for Transgenders, but expensive sex change surgeries.”
What @StarbucksIndia is promoting here is not acceptability for transgenders as many are confusing.
It is promoting expensive risky surgeries and hormonal treatments where the penis is chopped off, hole is drilled and chemicals are injected to destroy what nature gave you.… https://t.co/NJ2mxvEBjF
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) May 12, 2023
Another wrote,” Do not promote this woke nonsense in India. Imagine if these big brands did so in the Middle East.”
I’m failing to understand why these big brands are promoting this dirty culture openly. Dude, just make your coffee better instead of making genders better.
I dare you to do this shit in Middle East, then see your hands and legs thrown off in a dustbin. #BoycottStarbucks https://t.co/FefNnNShyN
— PiyushKapoor.eth (@TechTelepathy0) May 12, 2023
Meanwhile, the controversy has also invited some celebrity reactions. Kashmir Files Director Vivek Agnihotri asked why such ads always feature male-to-female transitioners. “Why Never Arpita turning into Arpit,” he wrote.
Have you ever wondered why ads on trans issue always show Arpit turning Arpita and never or very rearely Arpita becoming Arpit? Guess, why? https://t.co/aGINJ157D1
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 12, 2023
On the other hand, DCW Chief Swati Maliwal jumped in support of the Coffee chain brand and wrote,” Those who are opposing it, get a life.”
It’s a brilliant advertisement by @StarbucksIndia which supports LGBTQI+ persons. The people opposing this ad need to get real and get a life! #ItStartsWithYourName https://t.co/SQuyMU44CY
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 12, 2023