Chicago Starbucks Worker Did Not Write Loser On Order Honoring Charlie Kirk, Company Says

Starbucks refuted claims that employees at its Norwood Park location wrote "Loser" on a drink ordered to honor Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist fatally shot last week. The incident gained attention after Jacqueline Garretson, an Illinois conservative activist, shared a video alleging that her relative's drink bore the derogatory term. A Starbucks spokesperson clarified that video evidence indicated the note was added after the drink was handed off, likely by someone else. The store temporarily closed amid public outcry, with Garretson encouraging her followers to complain to Starbucks. The company confirmed the closure but noted that the location reopened after clarifying the situation.

Garretson's posts received over 40,000 likes, reflecting significant engagement from her online community. Starbucks reiterated its goal of fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all customers, addressing concerns about political names on orders. The backlash followed a separate incident where a Starbucks employee in California declined to write Kirk's name on a beverage.