Starbucks’ racial-bias training can’t come soon enough apparently. Just a month ago, police arrested Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson – two Black men – at the coffee chain as they waited for a friend to arrive. The manager’s decision to call the cops on these men sparked commotion online. It led the company to announce it’d close more than 8,000 stores on May 29 to provide training to nearly 175,000 employees. But just before this schooling takes place, another unacceptable incident has transpired at a Starbucks. While an employee didn’t place anyone’s life in danger this time around, a worker at a Starbucks in La Cañada Flintridge, California used a slur to describe a customer. Pedro, who asked to remain anonymous, ordered two coffees and received two cups with the word “beaner” written on it.
He doesn’t believe it’s accidental since the barista addressed him by his name when the order was ready, according to NBC Los Angeles. The store offered Pedro a $50 gift card, which he turned down. “I didn’t accept it because it’s like an insult overall,” he said.
Starbucks for its part has apologized. “This is not the experience that we want for our clients,” the company said in a statement. “We asked for his forgiveness and we are working to correct this. Also, we are investigating the incident to ensure this will not be repeated.”