Kayla Hart dropped by the Starbucks in Charlotte, North Carolina the other day for a cup of coffee. She left with a bitter taste – and it had nothing to do with the overpriced java.
Kayla happened to be wearing a Donald Trump t-shirt when she walked into the coffee shop on East Boulevard in the Dilworth neighborhood.
She tells Fox 46 the cashier took one look at her t-shirt and laughed. She also noticed her order was labeled with a political message – mocking her support of the president.
Instead of her name, the cashier wrote, “Build A Wall.”
“They shouted out, ‘Build a Wall’ and shoved a drink at me and then all the baristas in the back started cracking up laughing,” she said.
As you might imagine, it was a bit embarrassing for Kayla – whose only offense was to spend her hard-earned money at a far-left coffee house like Starbucks.
“I don’t know what politics has to do with getting a cup of coffee,” she told our Fox television affiliate.
Well, these days the mere mention of President Trump’s name can roast a barista’s beans faster than you can say, “Make America Great Again.”
“I just walked out because everyone was staring,” she said. “I just found it really sad that I can’t wear a t-shirt with our president without being made fun of.”
The good people at Fox 46 Charlotte thought the folks at Starbucks headquarters should know what was happening in their local store – and soon they received a response:
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"We failed to meet this customer's expectations of us, and we have apologized and are working directly with her to make it right. This experience is not consistent with our standards or the welcoming and respectful experience we aim to provide every customer who visit our stores. We have spoken with our store partners about this situation and are using this as a coaching opportunity for the future," Starbucks said in a statement.
Kayla said she is not on some sort of crusade to get people to boycott Starbucks. She just thinks customers should be treated with a little dignity.
“I don’t think it’s right you should be humiliated for wearing a t-shirt with your opinion on it,” she said.
Kayla should switch to Community Coffee. It won’t bust your budget, the staff is steeped in hospitality, and the coffee doesn’t taste burned.
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