Meltem Gunay, an anchor on the Turkish pro-Erdogan television station TGRT, faced dismissal on Sunday after appearing on the news with a Starbucks coffee cup
The seemingly innocuous act of the dismissal of Meltem Günay triggered a wave of anger among Turkish viewers who interpreted it as an endorsement of the coffee conglomerate, widely perceived as having pro-Israel affiliations in the Muslim world.
Who is Turkish TGRT TV anchor Meltem Gunay fired for promotting Starbucks cup amidst Israel vs Palestine war
Meltem Gunay, the host of TGRT, a Turkish TV channel, was dismissed for being seen on camera with a Starbucks cup.
The decision is linked to Starbucks' perceived "pro-Israeli" stance. pic.twitter.com/dw23Zf5xgd
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) December 25, 2023
Meltem Gunay has been fired after she appeared on a live broadcast with a Starbucks cup, sparking a boycott campaign for the entire news channel
Read more: https://t.co/lXFkRhPfJY pic.twitter.com/40VVWxcUb5
— RT (@RT_com) December 25, 2023
The controversy erupted as Starbucks, though not operating in Israel, found itself entangled in geopolitical tensions due to its upper management’s perceived pro-Israel stance. The company faced boycotts in various Muslim-majority countries, including Turkey, for its response to an anti-Israel statement made by one of its workers’ unions during the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
Turkish viewers expressed their frustration on social media by accusing Meltem Günay of implicitly supporting Israel through her choice of beverage. In response to the public outrage, TGRT swiftly took action, dismissing both Günay and the news segment’s director, citing inappropriate product placement.
The network emphasized its awareness of the sensitivities of the Turkish people, particularly regarding the situation in Gaza, and asserted its commitment to defending these sensitivities. It claimed that the termination was not a reflection of political bias but rather a response to a breach of professional conduct involving product placement during a news broadcast.
Starbucks, despite not having a presence in Israel, found itself caught between the crossfire of international opinions during the conflict. In October, the company took legal action against Starbucks Workers United for using the Starbucks logo in a statement expressing support for the Palestinians.
The controversy arose when the statement failed to condemn Hamas’s brutal October 7 onslaught on Israel, during which thousands of terrorists invaded the country, resulting in civilian casualties and hostage situations.
The firing of 45-year-old Meltem Günay and the news segment’s director underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding affiliations with perceived pro-Israel entities in certain regions. The incident sheds light on the complexities that arise when global corporations inadvertently become entangled in regional conflicts.