Overview
- The Jan. 9 incident occurred at a Norwalk Starbucks, where a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy on a 16-hour shift received a cup bearing a hand-drawn pig.
- The company apologized to the deputy and the department, opened an internal review, and confirmed the employee who handed over the cup is no longer with the company.
- Starbucks says the drawing referenced the internet character John Pork and was placed on the cup earlier to uplift coworkers, with photos showing phone-call style icons tied to the meme.
- The LASD called the act extremely offensive and said Sheriff Robert Luna contacted Starbucks’ corporate security and spoke with the deputy about the incident.
- Reports identified the store at Firestone and Pioneer in Norwalk, and public reaction ranged from support for the deputy to criticism and mockery of the episode; no criminal charges have been reported.