Jaci Anderson, Starbucks\u2019 director of global communications, told the news outlet the deputy was not intentionally given the cup but that it was instead the result of a \u201cseries of unfortunate events.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, the worker has been fired, she told the news outlet.<\/p>\n
“This was unacceptable. We have reached out to the customer several times and leaders in the Sheriff\u2019s Department to apologize,” a Starbucks spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Patch. “We immediately launched an investigation and are taking swift action to address this. We have a deep appreciation and respect for law enforcement, who are dedicated to keeping our communities safe.” <\/p>\n
A deputy stopped for a coffee at a Starbucks<\/a> in Norwalk on Friday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department said in a written statement.<\/p>\n While he was there, the deputy \u201cwas deliberately served a cup bearing a hand-drawn image of a pig, which is commonly used to demean law enforcement,\u201d according to the sheriff\u2019s department. <\/p>\n \u201cThis action was extremely offensive, inappropriate, and unacceptable,\u201d the department wrote. \u201cThe deputy quickly reported the incident to the store manager, who advised that the matter would be investigated.\u201d<\/p>\n After learning about the incident, Sheriff Robert Luna reported the incident to the \u201ccoffee company’s corporate security division to formally raise concerns and to ensure accountability,\u201d the sheriff’s department said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur deputies are part of the community and deserve to be treated respectfully and with basic human dignity,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s department wrote. \u201cActs that promote hostility and division toward law enforcement undermine community trust and public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n The drawing, a meme known as \u201cJohn Pork,\u201d was not meant to be given to the deputy intentionally, Anderson said. Rather, the worker had been drawing on cups throughout the day to cheer up coworkers, and the deputy was unintentionally served the cup with the meme.<\/p>\n John Pork is a virtual influencer with a large social media following on TikTok<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. The account has inspired a series of viral memes<\/a>, according to the Daily Mail<\/p>\n “The drawing, a popular meme with no connection to law enforcement, was never intended to be delivered to any customer \u2014 and it should not have been,” a Starbucks spokesperson said. “Every customer should always be made to feel welcome in our stores.”<\/p>\n