A Starbucks employee in Norwalk is no longer with the company after a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was served a cup of coffee bearing a hand-drawn image of a pig apparently inspired by an internet meme, the company said on Monday, Jan. 12.
The image of a pig is commonly used to demean law enforcement.
A Starbucks employee drew the pig on a paper cup, said Richard Pippins, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, in a statement. The deputy reported the incident to the store manager, who said he would investigate the matter, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Sheriff Robert Luna contacted the coffee company’s corporate security division to formally raise his concern.
“This action was extremely offensive, inappropriate and unacceptable,” a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department statement said. “Acts that promote hostility and division toward law enforcement undermine community trust and public safety.”
“This behavior, we are sure,” Pippins said, “falls short of the standard of respect and customer service that should be shown to ANY Starbucks customer and member of our diverse L.A. County community.”
A Starbucks spokesperson said the drawing depicted a viral meme called John Pork is Calling that isn’t related to law enforcement. John Pork is a character used by an influencer with nearly 470,000 followers on Instagram that resembles a man with a pig’s head.
“The drawing … was never intended to be delivered to any customer — and it should not have been,” Starbucks said in a statement.
After the drawing was reported, Starbucks said the employee was “separated” from the company.
The company said it reached out to the deputy several times as well as to the Sheriff’s Department to apologize. Starbucks said the company has a deep appreciation for law enforcement.