Why Starbucks' New Cup Is Sparking Outrage

'Tis the season to be jolly? Not all Starbucks customers would agree after seeing the company's latest holiday-themed cup, Refinery 29 reports. The serving cup—which Starbucks rolls out with a new design every November—boasts two shades of red rather than the usual Christmas imagery, such as ice skates, snowflakes, or a snowman. Reaction is mixed, but some customers are calling them too plain, while conservative Christians are claiming that their most celebrated annual holiday is under attack, Buzzfeed reports:

• Last time I will ever be seen in a starblucks was last week...War On Christmas: Starbucks https://t.co/9FbJhMnfuD via @BreitbartNews—Alan (@arknightdale) November 7, 2015
• Christians still have clout, boycott Starbucks, hit them where it hurts. https://t.co/4CI0fSYDPc—Rich Colvin (@Pastorrich1) November 6, 2015

But others are rallying to Starbucks' defense on Twitter:

• Tis the season of religious outrage. Mad about coffee cups, but not poverty, hunger, & sickness. Got it—Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) November 8, 2015
• If @Starbucks doesn't have books on their cups for Nat'l Library Week, it means they hate libraries. And literacy. And kittens. # RedCups—Andy (@wawoodworth) November 8, 2015

Starbuck's official explanation for the minimalist, two-toned cups? "In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cups designs," says Jeffrey Fields, Starbucks vice president of design and content, in a press release. "This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories." (Click to watch an epic Starbucks barista meltdown.)