Starbucks has responded to the viral controversy surrounding orders for a drink associated with far-right activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot earlier this month. The trend began when a TikTok user tried to order Kirk’s favorite drink — a Mint Majesty tea with two honeys — and asked for “Charlie Kirk” to be written on the cup. A barista refused, saying they couldn’t write political names, which sparked outrage online and led many of Kirk’s supporters to make the same request as a tribute.

In a statement, Starbucks clarified its policy on customer names. The company said it encourages customers to use their preferred names, including “Charlie Kirk,” but noted there have been past cases where people abused the system by using political slogans or offensive words as their “name” to create disruptions. Starbucks emphasized it wants its cafés to be welcoming spaces and has reminded staff to only decline names when they are clearly political slogans or inappropriate phrases.

Starbucks also addressed allegations that offensive messages had been written on cups, stating their investigation showed these comments were added after the drinks were handed off, not by Starbucks employees. They reviewed timestamped video footage to confirm this and said they take such reports seriously to maintain a positive environment.

The company concluded by reaffirming its commitment to respect customers’ preferences while ensuring a safe, welcoming space. “We hope our customers visit us with the same positive intent,” Starbucks stated, thanking both staff and customers for being part of their community.