I almost can't believe that I'm writing about this, but I guess some prudes will get up in arms about anything.
BBC News reports that a U.S. based Christian group known as The Resistance is calling for a nationwide boycott of the coffee selling giant, Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX). The group's complaint against the company stems from the commemorative use of a toned-down version of the company's original logo. Starbucks states that the logo, which features a dual-tailed mermaid sporting cleavage, is not inappropriate. The fringe Christian group refers to the logo as a naked woman with legs "spread like a prostitute."
The news report from BBC states: "Howard Schultz, who bought Starbucks in 1982, described the emblem in his memoirs as "bare-breasted and Rubenesque; [it] was supposed to be as seductive as coffee itself."
To look at the logo that is claimed to offend, one has a difficult time even seeing it as raunchy. To call the flared dual tails a pair of spread legs might be a feat best accomplished while on serious hallucinogens. Clearly, this group of well-meaning Christians is at a loss for real issues to attack. The fringe group's lack of imagination in seeking some media exposure for itself is seen by me as a shallow act of spotlight grabbing.
Starbucks is reported by the BBC as stating that the bare breasted mermaid will appear on some of its cups for several weeks as part of a company promotion. It was not revealed which of Starbucks' 16,000 coffee shops in 44 countries will be featuring the racy mermaid cups. However, I'm sure that anyone who is interested in getting one of these alleged soft-porn coffee cups may rest assured that, before too long, they'll be available to anyone via eBay.
To see all 10 of Sarah Gilbert's top 10 best and worst naked advertising campaigns, click here.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
5-31-2008 @ 7:14PM
BILL said...
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. HARDLY WORTH THE PRINT FOR THE ARTICLE.
IS THERE NOTHING MORE EXCITING OR INTERESTING TO WRITE ABOUT?
I AM NOW GOING TO HAVE A POT OF TEA TO RECUPERATE.
BILL
5-31-2008 @ 7:43PM
Dunkin said...
Starbucks sucks anyway!!! For a REAL cup of coffee that won't cost you the extra gallon of gas, go to DUNKIN DONUTS!!!! And while you're there, check out the new flatbread sandwiches and hash browns. They're fantastic!!!!
5-31-2008 @ 8:51PM
jim self said...
I hardly find their artful representations to be sinful.
Sporting cleavage is quite a clever way to put it.....but most women start out with a couple of em anyway-hidden or not. What would be the reaction if one of these knuckleheads went to a museum. I'm skeered of that.
5-31-2008 @ 8:57PM
sunny said...
this is so fricken stupid.
5-31-2008 @ 9:04PM
DNuttWorld said...
Although I could care less for coffee or Starbucks I thought I would write something about this matter.
I cannot stand when the Christians get all up in arms over nothing. If they are offended by the picture do not buy Starbuck's products. Maybe we should all boycott the Christians the next time a priest molest some child or at the very least when they are caught with hookers. Here's something I do everytime I go into a store and see that it is a Christian run business. I turn around and leave! Isn't it funny how fast a Christian will rip you off.
5-31-2008 @ 9:10PM
par4snip said...
these people are prudes who probably get undressed in the dark so as not to embarress themselves.
5-31-2008 @ 9:13PM
larry said...
forget the cleavage, why has shultz abandoned his customers of 10/15 years?
we learned to love his strong, bold coffee and then has abandoned us to both have a mcdonalds, dunkins style coffee instead of having 2 blends a day.
the store i use had bold for a while, until noon and another store i went to has also stoped doing bold at 10.30
now ask why sales are down as well as its stock
5-31-2008 @ 9:12PM
larry said...
forget the cleavage, why has shultz abandoned his customers of 10/15 years?
we learned to love his strong, bold coffee and then has abandoned us to both have a mcdonalds, dunkins style coffee instead of having 2 blends a day.
the store i use had bold for a while, until noon and another store i went to has also stoped doing bold at 10.30
now ask why sales are down as well as its stock
5-31-2008 @ 9:20PM
don said...
Bogus story...............Get A Real Job
5-31-2008 @ 9:21PM
Mike Sanders said...
Here's an idea, Starbuck's could sart using the new logo (non-sexy) on disposabale cups, but you can buy a ceramic cup, with the old emblem (sexy), for $29.95 (refills are free).
A Captialist Christian
5-31-2008 @ 9:25PM
Debbie said...
It seems to me that these "churches" spend an awful lot of time thinking about sex and sexy things in inanimate objects. Maybe they should get a hobby!
5-31-2008 @ 9:48PM
jeannie said...
I am glad the article states that this is the response of a 'fringe' group. Please know that most Christians are not the fruit loops we are portrayed to be by the behavior of a few idiots looking for media attention. Most of us actually cringe when some radical group makes a dopey statement like this. I don't find the logo offensive at all.
5-31-2008 @ 9:29PM
The Deacon said...
Another in the long line of insipid PC freaks.
5-31-2008 @ 9:25PM
Diane said...
Dear Starbucks,
Your coffee seems to suck, lately - or maybe it's because I moved to southern Oregon from San Francisco and they use the Denny's recipe here...
Anyway, I'm on your side regarding this exceedingly stupid, fanatical Christian group. If you have any balls left at all, DO NOT GIVE IN TO THEM. Do NOT participate in their plan to take over the country!
Sincerely,
Californian stuck in Oregon
6-01-2008 @ 2:53PM
Rachel said...
Maybe this Christian group is caring about such a small issue when there are more serious problems in the U.S but is it really necessary to even sex - up your coffee? People don't realize that many products that are marketed are 'sexy' when sex has no relevance to the product .... like coffee or vitamin water. Even though this coffee cup isn't the biggest issue, no one has a place in disrespecting the views of conservative Christians who feel that sex-ing up everything is just classless and distasteful. I suppose the 'prudes' care about slutty coffee cups, and the sluts care about Britney Spears' custody rights.
5-31-2008 @ 9:27PM
josh said...
i dont understand what the problem is. i am a conservative christian, and the logo is by no means innapropriate. her body is no more exposed than i can assume many of the bodies of the daughters of this particular groups members are. there is such a double standard among many christians today that they cant put this kind of thing on a cup but on your daughter is fine. this is a classical figure of mythology and not paris hilton. they arent asking the printers of paradise lost to censor pictures of eve on the covers are they?
5-31-2008 @ 9:28PM
Spike said...
That so called "christian" group is made up of a bunch of perverts.
Only sex addicted freaks like them could come up with that stupid obversvation and say they see a prostitute with her legs open. They have dirtier minds than the common man.
Who thinks like that?!!!!
Freaks and perverts like them that's who!
SINNERS UNITE!
Hmmm, I better cut back on the caffine.
5-31-2008 @ 9:30PM
Richard Ott said...
The Resisstance could be watching grass grow and
think it's offensive. They've got no case, here.
This coffee is called Starbucks, not "Starf--cks"!
5-31-2008 @ 9:31PM
Joe said...
If the Starbucks logo is all they have to fuss about
things are going well for them. I agree that
Duncin donuts has the best coffee.
5-31-2008 @ 9:35PM
nadz said...
ha... i wonder if aol news is interested in some fresh writing talent...