Fact Check: Has Starbucks CEO Apologized Over Israel Support?

International coffee chain Starbucks has faced a series of setbacks in the past year amid boycotts and strikes, alongside a nearly $11 billion decline in its market value that occurred at the end of 2023.

The company recently faced backlash after a communications fiasco around the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. It was drawn into the conversation after Starbucks Workers United, the union representing many of its baristas, expressed solidarity with Palestinians in a tweet.

The union’s message and Starbucks’ response—taking legal action against the union—led to boycotts from customers.

Now, a viral TikTok says Starbucks is “ready to donate money to Palestine” and its CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, was “begging for forgiveness” from customers.

The Claim

A TikTok posted by user reeehan_950 on January 9, 2024, viewed 2.2 million times, claimed that Starbucks had announced “they are ready to donate money to Palestine and they are also ready to support the Palestinians….because of the boycotts and because the company is almost collapsing.”

User reehan_950 added that Starbucks and its CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, were “begging for forgiveness now.”

“Let me remind you in the beginning of this genocide, after the 7th of October, Starbucks have announced that they are fully supporting Israel and all the money is going to Israel,” reehan_950 said.

“And that Starbucks is against Palestine and the Palestinians, and that CEO, the same exact CEO who is begging for forgiveness now, is the guy who announced in a press conference that he is gonna forever stand against Palestine and the Palestinians and Starbucks is forever a pro-Israeli company.”

The Facts

Neither Laxman Narasimhan nor Starbucks has made any statements allying themselves to either side of the conflict, nor have they said they would be making financial contributions to any Israeli or Palestinian group.

In a statement released on its website on December 29, 2023, Starbucks said: “Our position remains unchanged. Starbucks stands for humanity. We condemn violence, the loss of innocent life and all hate and weaponized speech.

Despite false statements spread through social media, we have no political agenda. We do not use our profits to fund any government or military operations anywhere—and never have.”

In an end-of-year letter to employees, Narasimhan mentioned “conflicts” around the world that have “unleashed violence against the innocent, hate and weaponized speech, and lies—all of which we condemn.” The letter mentioned neither Israel nor Palestinians but did note that “stores have experienced incidents of vandalism.”

“We see protestors influenced by misrepresentation on social media of what we stand for,” it stated.

“We have worked with local authorities to ensure our partners and customers are safe. Nothing is more important. Our stance is clear. We stand for humanity.”

Newsweek has contacted a media representative for Starbucks via email for comment.

The company found itself in hot water in 2023 following a tweet from Starbucks Workers United. The tweet, posted without the authorization of union leaders, expressed solidarity with Palestinians shortly after the October 7 attack. Workers United later said that workers put up the tweet without the authorization of union leaders.

The post was deleted, Starbucks issuing legal action against the union and stating “people were mistakenly tying these remarks to us, because Workers United, its affiliates and members continue to use our name, logo and intellectual property.”

The union has sued Starbucks back, accusing the company of defaming it.

The initial tweet from the union and Starbucks’ response led to boycott calls from supporters on both sides of the conflict. Starbucks stores across the globe have since been targeted by protestors in the U.S. and Europe.

It is not the only boycott the company has faced. It has faced ongoing strikes, led by unionized workers, highlighting an urge for improved staffing, scheduling, and bargaining over contract negotiations. The workers demand better working conditions, especially on high-traffic days that they say test the limits of staff capacity and morale.

In any case, the company has not “begged for forgiveness” or made public apologies nor has it made partisan commitments regarding the conflict as the TikTok post suggests.

The user who shared the claims, reehan_950, has said elsewhere that another TikTok account of theirs was recently banned. Newsweek has contacted reehan_950 via TikTok and a media representative for TikTok via email for comment.

The Ruling

False.

Starbucks and its CEO have not issued statements “begging for forgiveness” from its customers nor has it made any partisan statements about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the company has faced boycott actions, it has not released any statement supporting either Israeli or Palestinian groups or causes.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek’s Fact Check team