Originally, the coffee chain tweeted in support of the movement, writing, "Black Lives Matter. We continue to listen to our partners and communities and their desire to stand for justice together. The Starbucks Black Partner Network co-designed t-shirts with this graphic that will soon be sent to 250,000+ store partners."
However, their support of the movement was widely criticized as hypocritical after people learned that the company was not allowing employees to support the movements (with shirts, pins, and other accessories), citing it as a violation of dress code.
According to Buzzfeed News, "The company explicitly stated that Black Lives Matter attire was prohibited from the lists of things employees can wear due to its dress code policy, which also includes any type of political, religious, or personal accessories or clothing. However, as many employees noted to BuzzFeed News, Starbucks not only exempts buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, but hands them out."
As a result, one of Starbucks' celebrity fans, Ariana Grande, unfollowed the coffee chain on Instagram--a move that fans were quick to notice.
According to People, "Grande's unfollow is notable since she once became a "Starbucks ambassador," posing with the Cloud Macchiato drink while wearing a green Starbucks apron in March 2019."
Later, the company announced they had changed their policy. The company tweeted, "In response to this historic time, our store partners can also show support for the Black Lives Matter movement with their own t-shirts, pins and name tags."
They discussed their updated decision in a press release that you can read here.