Starbucks Apologizes Following Outrage Over Controversial Arrest Inside Store

Matt Petrillo reports.

[peterbourne]

This was supposed to be a business meeting. But a Starbucks employee went full tilt racist and shouted from behind the counter at the two men to make a purchase or leave. That is just plain rude! They were sitting quietly minding their own business, waiting for a business associate (happened to be an older white guy) to arrive.

This is how business meetings are done EVERY SINGLE DAY. I've done it myself too many times...waited for someone to arrive at an eatery without ordering a single thing. In fact, I think I could have gone into that very same Starbucks on that day and never would have been asked to leave (and would have been in there 30 minutes longer than these two).

The reason? My skin pigmentation is lighter than the two guys that were arrested. That alone has kept me out of jail? This is insane!

[heyheyhey]

So black people can’t be early to meetings anymore?

[jonrockgoodpeopledosomethi]

*An Apology Begins At $500, 000 Per Victim*

[Jen-cjbr]

I worked at SBux for 4 years (in the Bible Belt) and we NEVER would have called the police. We had a very tiny store with limited tables, and STILL would not have done this. If anything, I would have offered them a water and then minded my own damn business. I think they should fire the employee responsible.

[randywein]

And what was the charge on which they were arrested? A complaint by a nervous employee is NOT adequate cause. All cops, including the black arresting officer and the black police commissioner, certainly should know that.

[PuertoRicanfjr]

I went to Starbucks one time to use the WiFi service on my laptop without purchasing a drink. Guess what? I was there for 1 hour and I NEVER got arrested nor in trouble for not purchasing anything.

This is just fucked up.

[roseappiah]

Apology isn't going to wipe away the embarrassment they caused these 2 young men. This isn't going to fade away immediately. Their stupidity in issuing an apology and not something sustainable to them is unamusing. People from all over the world are seeing this.

Starbucks, you've served your last coffee.

[theguti_man]

Some of the starbucks in midtown nyc are packed with people just standing around, lounging, even in line to use the restrooms especially the one in times square. Starbucks' response I applaud, but shame on the employee, and shame on the initial responding officers because the arrest was not warranted. A civil lawsuit shall remedy the situation of course.

[sleeperno]

And all apology does not unwind the arrest and booking of two honest men into a jail. Seems to me the employee should be arrested and forced to do the perp walk for lying to police. The police commissioner is a sorry excuse for defending the action. The officers could have refused the arrest.

[astartejones]

NO MORE COINS FOR STARBUCKS. REMEMBER PAPA JOHN'S ?

[prettyprudent]

Many of those baristas have no idea that the coffee BEAN is native to Africa, and that Africa is the BIRTHPLACE of Coffee. lol 🙂🌿

[samriley]

To arrest for trespassing is at the discretion of the police. So the officers had another way to handle the situation but chose not to.

[BROWNPRIDE]

I would say 2 black people sitting in a starbucks is suspicious.

[livelife]

Getting someone arrested for no reason isn’t really something you can say sorry for. Those men need financial compensation and I do expect the Starbucks manager to be fired immediately and arrested for making false allegations/wasting police time.

[garrettbabcock]

Less than 15 minutes? Barista is power tripping, cops are power tripping. Of course they didn't order. They were waiting for a third party.

[morganmaxwell]

I used to live in Seattle, where Starbucks got started. I remember almost 20 years ago, when there was an African-American establishment called I believe the Catfish Corner. This was in the predominately, at the time, African-American neighborhood called the Central District. Instead of allowing this very, popular, local restaurant have the lot literally across the street, Starbucks took it. They used Magic Johnson as a their "tool" to suppress a lot of anger in the community for what Starbucks did. I never liked Starbucks. Seattle had so many good local coffee shops, which were not corporate. I put Starbucks in the same category as any other multi-national, corporation. Basically, I'm not surprised. I don't think they pay their employees much. Supposedly they have good benefits, but so do a lot of non-New York Stock exchange, local businesses. I would say getting a burger from McDonald's is probably making as much as much a statement as getting a coffee from Starbucks. I remember at the WTO protests in Seattle, Starbucks and McDonald's were both attacked by the "anarchists" from Eugene, Oregon. That's when all the hell broke lose with the police and the protesters. Naturally, I'm disappointed with the black, police chief, but is that anything new? It actually was very pathetic. I'm glad those "white" Philadelphia customers and the "white" Mayor spoke up for their fellow citizens. It makes me scared and makes me almost want to cry as an African-American male living in the United States of America. Basically, despite all their corporate B.S., all Starbucks sells is sugar, hidden in all their fancy, way too expensive, silly sounding, phony, cups of coffee.

[raielyahyisrael]

What the situation is waiting ????while Starbucks ??? Sue these racists imps

[hersheljamahil]

I was always taught to be 15-20 min early for ANYTHING business related..

[kavienbrown]

Mannn. I always wanted to try Starbucks.. but i guess my kind isn't welcomed 🤷‍♂️

[nancymesek]

The police are the ones that need to issue an apology. They should’ve never arrested them, especially after the man they were meeting showed up.