A woman in Middletown, Ohio, has claimed that a Starbucks employee wrote a derogatory message on her cup after she ordered a drink in honor of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Autumn Perkins, 30, posted a photo of the cup on Facebook on September 21, showing the phrase “racists fav drink” written on it.
Perkins stated she was participating in a trend among Kirk’s supporters to order his favorite beverage, a “Mint Majesty” tea with two honeys, following his recent death. She shared her disappointment on social media, writing that the incident reinforced her preference for a small, locally-owned coffee shop.
The Starbucks location where the incident occurred is inside a Kroger and is operated under a licensing agreement. A spokesperson for Kroger told The Enquirer that the employee responsible for the message had been fired, emphasizing that the behavior did not align with the company’s values. A Starbucks spokesperson echoed this sentiment, stating, “Writing this on a cup is unacceptable. We have policies that prohibit negative messages to help preserve a welcoming environment.”
This is not the first time a viral incident has involved a customer ordering a drink in Kirk’s name. After a similar claim in Chicago, Starbucks reviewed security footage and said the messages were added by customers after the drink was handed to them. In another instance in California, a barista reportedly refused to write Kirk’s name on a cup, calling it “political.” Starbucks later clarified that while political slogans are prohibited, customers can use any name they wish, including Charlie Kirk’s.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. Kirk, who was 31, was a prominent figure in the conservative movement and a close ally of President Donald Trump. He was known for his efforts to energize young Republican voters but also for controversial opinions that some considered misogynistic, xenophobic, or racist. His death sparked a national conversation about political violence and has led to a wave of disciplinary actions against individuals who have made comments celebrating his death.