Music mogul Russell Simmons and Kevin Hart want to see some immediate change. The duo have come forward to publicly address the controversy surrounding Starbucks following last week’s ridiculously ludicrous arrests.
Simmons has relied on Instagram to speak out and extend his hand to the now-infamous men arrested at one of the Philadelphia Starbucks locations.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhoPX5fAKHs/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhmuq6NAopc/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhnDKGBgODC/
Yesterday, Kevin Hart went to Twitter to single out the coffee franchise but did not call for a boycott.
Message to the @Starbucks in Philadelphia….Our city is shining bright like a diamond right now. Please make this situation right. I repeat please make this situation right!!!!!!! Once again MAKE THIS RIGHT
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) April 15, 2018
Let's make one thing very clear….This is not a boycott @Starbucks situation….This is horrible management. The manager on duty was wrong. It's that simple…That's who needs to take responsibility for this wrong doing.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) April 15, 2018
I will address your ignorance professionally…I have no obligation or relationship with @Starbucks 1st and foremost. @hm problem came from the top which gave reason for the reaction to that situation. This problem comes from a bad hire. The person was wrong not the brand. https://t.co/kSA0wCgss4
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) April 15, 2018
Saturday afternoon, the coffee conglomerate issued its apology which ultimately fell on deaf ears.
We apologize to the two individuals and our customers for what took place at our Philadelphia store on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/suUsytXHks
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) April 14, 2018
Instead of making people feel better, the apology has sparked a range of deep-rooted frustrations and tense emotions.
I hope that more than just an apology, @Starbucks will use its platform to generate conversations about this. Why is it so ridiculously easy to call cops on blk men? Or shoot at a 14 year old who's knocking on a door. https://t.co/RL1hJR1IFL
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) April 14, 2018
This lady's thread. Thank you for capturing this and for these comments. https://t.co/RL1hJQK7hb
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) April 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/AndrayDomise/status/985145101566562304
You'll notice that nowhere in this "apology" was an admission of wrongdoing. Starbucks doesn't think the employees were wrong to call the cops on those men, they're just sorry the men got arrested over it. https://t.co/wcE6s20lwk
— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) April 14, 2018
Outside the Starbucks today pic.twitter.com/vcr9QstkRT
— Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 14, 2018
Yes, the two men were asked to leave @Starbucks, as the Philly Police said in their statement, but they sat there peacefully and had the nerve to ask WHY they were being asked to leave. What counts as peaceful protest? Isn't that what this is?!
— Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 14, 2018
Bullshit apology #BoycottStarbucks https://t.co/9Hm4ZcbjQV
— garden variety socialist (@sunrainsunrain) April 14, 2018
This is a bad statement, written by lawyers and public relations folks who purposefully use vague language—“these matters” & “these type of situations.” https://t.co/7gAXSbXGug
— Josh Sternberg (@joshsternberg) April 14, 2018
You were started by progressives in the Northwest. This is about as far from a progressive statement of accountability as you can get. Disappointed in you to the point of boycotting you until you do the right thing. What does Howard Schultz think of all this? #BoycottStarbucks
— Lorraine Montez (@lorrainemontez) April 14, 2018