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Starbucks Customer Slams Barista After Spotting ‘Disgusting’ Message On Cup
A Starbucks worker in Los Angeles has lost their job after handing a police officer a coffee cup with a ‘disrespectful’ message written on it.
The barista gave the officer a cup with an ‘offensive’ message written on it when he bought his drink.
Brandon Longoria was in the middle of a 16-hour shift when a coffee run turned into what he described as a derogatory name-calling incident.
After the incident, Longoria said: “All I wanted was caffeine, but instead I left feeling uneasy.”
However, this is not the first time a fast-food chain has seen insults written on its packaging.
A similar incident at Chick-fil-A
There was a similar incident at Chick-fil-A recently, involving an insult on a receipt.
A customer from Maryland says he felt ‘disgusted’ and ‘humiliated’ after a worker allegedly printed a racist label on his food order receipt.
Marquise Vanzego claims the incident occurred on August 23, 2024, when staff at the fast-food chain’s drive-thru repeatedly called out the name ‘Monkeys’ as they handed out orders.
He initially assumed the name could not refer to him, but he changed his mind after the employee confirmed his meal and described his white van.
Vanzego then realized the offensive word appeared on his receipt instead of his name.
He immediately challenged the situation and spoke to the on-duty manager, who apologised and refunded his order.
After the incident, he sent a formal complaint to Chick-fil-A and shared his experience on social media, where reactions split between support and scepticism.
Some users suggested a miscommunication, but Vanzego rejected that explanation saying that made his order face to face.
The franchise owner later apologiszd and told Vanzego he would not fire the employee involved, who reportedly wrote down what he thought he heard.
Chick-fil-A’s corporate office called the incident ‘unacceptable’ and confirmed the restaurant operates independently.
The incident at Starbucks
Responding to the incident at Starbucks, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department wrote on Facebook that insults like this ‘would not be tolerated.’
“This action was extremely offensive, inappropriate and unacceptable,” the LASD added.
After the incident upset the police officer, Starbucks offered him an apology for any offence caused.
A spokesperson for the coffee company said: “This was unacceptable. We have reached out to the customer several times and to leaders in the Sheriff’s Department to apologize.
“Every customer should always be made to feel welcome in our stores.”
The company confirmed that the branch has now fired the employee.
They also said the store operates independently, and neither the branch nor the employee belongs to a union.
But what did the coffee cup say?
When Brandon Longoria went to pick up his coffee order, he noticed a drawing on the side.
On the cup was a cartoon pig, which Longoria assumed was an insult to him being a police officer.
The character that was drawn is known as ‘John Pork.’
‘John Pork’ is a viral internet character that frequently appears in memes, parody videos, and humorous social media posts.
The animal choice also connects to a long-running slang insult aimed at police officers.
A Starbucks representative said the drawing did not target Longoria.
Instead, the barista doodled on cups earlier that day to entertain coworkers, and a ‘series of unfortunate events’ led staff to hand the cup to the deputy.
Despite the explanation, Longoria was still upset by the incident.
Why do we call the police pigs?
‘Pigs’ is a common insult for the police, but not many people actually know where it came from.
People have used the slang term ‘pigs’ to describe police for decades, mostly linking it to anti-authority protest movements from the 1960s and 1970s.
It became especially popular during demonstrations against the Vietnam War and civil rights clashes in the United States, where activists accused police of brutality, racism, and abusing power.
Groups, including the Black Panthers, regularly used the term in speeches and protest material, helping push it into mainstream culture.
No one knows the exact origin, but the insult likely stuck because people stereotypically viewed pigs as dirty and greedy animals.
Protesters used the comparison to criticize officers they believed acted violently or unfairly toward the public.
The phrase quickly spread beyond politics into punk music, rap, films, graffiti, and internet culture, eventually becoming recognised worldwide.
Over time, ‘pig’ became one of the most controversial insults aimed at police.
Critics argue it unfairly attacks all officers, including those who serve communities responsibly.
While supporters of the phrase say it reflects real anger over corruption, discrimination, or excessive force.
Today, the term still appears during protests and online arguments to insult police officers.
Related Article: Black Chick-fil-A Customer ‘Disgusted’ And ‘Humiliated’ After Spotting What Worker Called Him On Ticket Order
Related Article: Starbucks Responds After Couple Charged $4,500 For Two Cups Of Coffee
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