Companies have countless ways to draw customers in. From celebrity collaborations to limited-edition merchandise, big brands know how to stir excitement and boost sales. Starbucks, never one to miss a trend, recently joined the frenzy by releasing an adorable new item called the limited-edition Bear Cup. The cup features a cute cartoon bear wearing a green hat and holding a green and white straw, and it instantly captured the hearts of collectors and coffee lovers alike. As expected, the Bear Cup caused quite a stir. People lined up early, some even camping outside stores, hoping to get their hands on one before supplies ran out. But with any limited release, chaos is never too far behind. One particular incident in New York perfectly illustrates how far some people are willing to go for a piece of merch.
According to reports and viral clips circulating online, a man in New York had a full-blown meltdown after he was denied a Starbucks Bear Cup because he had been waiting in the wrong line. He apparently thought he was in the correct spot to purchase the cup, but staff explained that he was not in the official queue. When they clarified this, the man became argumentative and insisted he had been there first.
The Starbucks employees tried to reason with him, calmly explaining that the people standing in the proper line had followed the rules and it would not be fair to let him skip ahead. They even mentioned they had photographic proof showing he was not where he claimed to be. Still, the New York man refused to back down. When asked to leave, he became even more stubborn, demanding that they serve him anyway. Things got heated enough that others in line began telling him to leave so the store could continue serving customers peacefully.
If the man thought that the internet would sympathize with him, he was sorely mistaken. Once the video made its rounds online, commenters were quick to call out his behavior. Many pointed out how absurd it was to make such a scene over a Starbucks Bear Cup. “It’s just marketing,” one user wrote. “People need to stop falling for these gimmicks.”
Others were even harsher, mocking the man’s attempt to defend himself by saying his girlfriend cried when he did not get the cup. “This is… sad,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “I can’t imagine being a grown adult throwing a tantrum over a cup and then posting it online like it proves you’re right.”
