Summary:
An Ohio Starbucks employee was terminated after writing a derogatory message on a customer’s cup, accusing Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk of being a racist. The incident occurred at a Kroger-operated Starbucks location, sparking debates about workplace conduct, free speech, and political polarization. Starbucks and Kroger condemned the action, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a respectful environment for all customers. The event highlights the broader societal tensions surrounding political figures and corporate accountability.
What This Means for You:
- Workplace Conduct: Employees must adhere to company policies to avoid disciplinary actions or termination, especially in customer-facing roles.
- Freedom of Speech vs. Professionalism: While individuals have the right to express opinions, workplaces often limit such expressions to maintain neutrality and respect.
- Corporate Accountability: Companies like Starbucks and Kroger prioritize customer experience, and violations of their policies can lead to swift consequences.
- Future Outlook: Expect increased scrutiny of workplace behavior and political expression as societal divisions continue to influence corporate environments.
Original Post:
An employee working at a Starbucks franchise location was fired after she wrote a message on a customer’s cup that accused Turning Point co-founder Charlie Kirk of being a racist.
Autumn Perkins, who lives in Middletown, Ohio, told Fox News that the incident happened at a Starbucks inside a Kroger grocery store after she ordered a mint majesty with two honeys, Kirk’s go-to drink.
When she received her order, Perkins found, “racist’s fav drink” on the side of her cup.
“Writing this on a cup is unacceptable.”
A barista was fired after writing “racists fav drink” when an Ohio woman ordered Charlie Kirk’s go-to Starbucks drink. pic.twitter.com/csaJyESgGd
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 22, 2025
“After speaking to the manager, Perkins learned that the employee admitted to writing the hateful message — and was subsequently fired,” Fox News reported.
Perkins told the outlet, “I would agree that people should be fired if they’re doing something like this,” adding that “actions have repercussions.”
“I feel like Charlie stood for respect — we don’t have to agree on everything. We can disagree on a lot of things, but we respect each other,” she went on.
Starbucks said in a statement regarding the incident, “Writing this on a cup is unacceptable, and we have clear policies that prohibit negative messages to help preserve a welcoming environment. This Starbucks location is licensed and operated by Kroger. We understand that this associate was terminated by Kroger.”
Kroger confirmed the firing in a Monday email to Fox, writing, “This behavior does not reflect Kroger’s values.”
Multiple prominent Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, have accused Kirk of being a racist in the aftermath of his Sept. 10 assassination.
.@RepAOC @AOC on House-passed resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk: “Instead of uniting Congress in this tragedy with one of the many bipartisan options to condemn political violence and Kirk’s murder, as we did with the late Melissa Hortman, instead the… pic.twitter.com/lkx3JGO1gN
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 19, 2025
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not grant African Americans the right to vote. Rather, the 15th Amendment, passed after the Civil War, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 did.
Kirk explained during a back-and-forth on a college campus during the 2024 campaign cycle that he supported the purpose of the Civil Rights Act, which was to ensure all races received equal treatment, but felt it had been written too broadly, allowing it to be interpreted by some to support men competing in women’s sports, etc.
Asked if he would get rid of the Civil Rights Act, Kirk responded, “No, I think you should have a one-page bill that says that racial discrimination based on race is illegal and will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”
Charlie Kirk opposed the Civil Rights Act because its overly broad provisions are being used to keep men in women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/bwdwjDvm8u
— Muscular Christian (@BuffedJesus) September 19, 2025
“The way it was written is that any claim of identification, so someone says, ‘I’m a woman, therefore I can compete in your volleyball team.’ They come in with a civil rights claim,” he explained.
“What we’re saying is, ‘No, no, no — that it should be specified to racial, not gender, all that other stuff.”
Black America is waking up
So inspired to see 400+ black youth take a stand against leftist ideas and policies
Big government has ruined our inner cities
If you show me a ghetto I’ll show you somewhere a Democrat is in control
The exodus is happening pic.twitter.com/O7vDEaRYjD
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 26, 2018
Conservative black pastor John Amanchukwu, who has spoken at Turning Point USA events, said regarding Kirk’s view on the Civil Rights Act, “Now, do you get it? He was not trying to say that blacks should lose their rights and equal protections under the law.”
Rather, Amanchukwu argued, Kirk was against those who identify as LGBT having special rights: “We should have equal rights under the law, but not special rights.”
FactCheck.org reported that on another occasion, Kirk asserted that the Civil Rights Act led to a “permanent DEI-type bureaucracy,” referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion, that has limited free speech.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
Extra Information:
Starbucks’ Customer Experience Policy outlines the company’s commitment to a welcoming environment, which aligns with their response to this incident. Additionally, Kroger’s Values emphasize respect and integrity, further contextualizing the decision to terminate the employee.
People Also Ask About:
- What are Starbucks’ policies on employee conduct? Starbucks strictly prohibits any behavior that undermines a welcoming environment, including negative messages or discriminatory actions.
- Why was Charlie Kirk controversial? Kirk faced criticism for his views on the Civil Rights Act and his opposition to DEI initiatives, which some interpreted as racially divisive.
- How do companies handle political expressions by employees? Many companies enforce neutrality policies to avoid alienating customers or creating workplace tensions.
- What is the impact of political polarization on workplaces? Increasing societal divisions can lead to stricter policies and heightened scrutiny of employee behavior in professional settings.
Expert Opinion:
This incident underscores the growing challenges companies face in balancing employee expression with maintaining a neutral and respectful environment. As political tensions rise, businesses must navigate these complexities to uphold their values while avoiding alienating diverse customer bases.
Key Terms:
- Starbucks employee termination
- Charlie Kirk controversy
- Workplace conduct policies
- Corporate accountability
- Political polarization in the workplace
- Freedom of speech vs. professionalism
- Kroger Starbucks incident
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