Starbucks’ holiday cups are causing discussion and debate again.
According to the New York Times, some people say this year's cups are promoting homosexuality.
Earlier this month, Starbucks released a video to introduce the cups. It featured a variety of customers, including an animation of two women shown holding hands around a Starbucks drink. Though their relationship wasn't specified, some people saw it as a nod toward LGBTQ customers.
There are also two gender-neutral hands linked on the side of this year's cup.
Last week, a BuzzFeed News story suggested the hands belong to a same-sex couple, saying Starbucks did not confirm or deny that the hands belong to a same-sex couple.
Several customers said the depiction was one of a same-sex couple, with some appearing to be supportive of the move and others criticizing it.
"This year's hand-drawn cup features scenes of celebrating with loved ones — whoever they may be," Starbucks spokeswoman Sanja Gould told The Times. "We intentionally designed the cup so our customers can interpret it in their own way, adding their own color and illustrations."
This isn't the first time the company's holiday cups caused discussion. In 2015, many people were upset about the plain red cups that didn't have a holiday-themed pattern. A conservative Christian activist pushed a boycott of Starbucks.
At the time, the company said the cups were a blank canvas for customers to tell their own holiday story.
Credit: Joshua Trujillo, Starbucks
Credit: Joshua Trujillo, Starbucks
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