Starbucks India stirred controversy and faced calls for boycotts following the release of a commerciaI set in India that sparked objections, particularly from the right-wing community. The company drew criticism for its latest promotionaI campaign, which portrayed parents meeting their transgender daughter at a Starbucks outlet.

In the video, a father initially grapples with accepting his daughter’s transition but eventually embraces it by ordering a drink for her under her new name. Starbucks India shared the video on Twitter with the caption, “Your name defines who you are – whether it’s Arpit or Arpita. At Starbucks, we love and accept you for who you are. Because being yourself means everything to us. #ItStartsWithYourName.”

The advertisement faced significant backlash, with political commentator Rukshan Fernando tweeting, “Starbucks facing backIash in India after adopting a full Bud Light approach. Introducing a mediocre US coffee brand to the market wasn’t bad enough; now they bring their woke corporate culture to the Subcontinent.”

In Starbucks India’s comment section, one user expressed dismay, stating, “It’s deepIy concerning to witness the rapid erosion of cultural identity in our era. Certain liberal forces persistently normalize practices that seem to undermine our cherished traditions and values.”