Fake Starbucks coupons emerged online following last week's incident in Philadelphia that saw two black men arrested in one of the company’s coffee shops after an employee called police when they refused to leave, Fox News reported.
A video of the incident went viral, prompting outrage and forcing Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson to release an apology, followed by planning for companywide "racial bias" training.
The fake coupons making the rounds on social media promise “people of color” and “African American heritage” free beverages.
“We’re sorry. We know we can do better,” reads one fake flyer on Twitter containing a coupon, adding that “the best dialogue starts over a cup of coffee and we’d like to buy you one.”
The coupon instructs baristas to use the discount code 1488, which happens to be the combination of two numbers that have become symbols of white supremacy and has been shared via accounts with far-right affiliations, Business Insider reported.
A Starbucks spokesperson told CNBC the coupons are “completely false and in no way associated with Starbucks.”
The coffee giant has been working hard on damage control in the wake of the Philadelphia arrests last Thursday.
According to CNBC, staff called police when the two men, who were reportedly waiting for friends to arrive, refused to order anything.
On Tuesday, Starbucks announced plans to close more than 8,000 of its U.S. stores on May 29 to “conduct racial-bias education geared toward preventing discrimination” in its stores.
Executive chairman Howard Schultz stepped into the fray, saying said the company's founding values were “based on humanity and inclusion,” adding, “we will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer.”
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