TURKEY (VINnews) — Meltem Günay, an award-winning news anchor in Turkey, was fired Sunday for the “offense” of appearing on the news with a Starbucks coffee cup.
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Gunay was an anchor on the pro-Erdogan television station TGRT, and left viewers infuriated by what they viewed as an endorsement of Starbucks, which many in the Muslim world perceive as pro-Israel.
In a statement, the network was very open about its pro-Gaza sentiments and cause for the termination.
It announced that Günay and the director were both fired due to inappropriate product placement. The network said that it is “aware of the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding Gaza and defends them till the end,” saying that it would never approve a broadcast to the contrary.
It added that it “strongly condemns the actions” of both the anchor and director. TGRT also said Günay had violated strict advertising restrictions.
“[I]t is strictly forbidden for the announcer to present on TGRT News TV in a way that will covertly advertise any company,” the statement said.
“Our institution has an understanding that knows the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding Gaza and defends them to the end. It is absolutely impossible to approve any action or publication contrary to this. We do not approve of this action of the presenter and director, whose employment contracts were terminated, and we strongly condemn it. For this reason, their employment contracts were terminated,” it continued.
Starbucks has faced boycotts and vandalism over perceptions the coffee company is pro-Israel, because of its conflict with Workers United.
In October, Starbucks sued the labor union after it published a now-deleted post that reflected its “support for violence perpetrated by Hamas.”
To disassociate from the group, Starbucks sued Workers United for using its name, logo and intellectual property.
The coffee company has not come out clearly in support of Israel or Palestinians but put out a statement on October 18 condemning “violence in the region.”
After the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of commerce announced a boycott and stating “Drinking a cup of Starbucks is Drinking a Cup of Jewish Blood”, Howard Schultz, former CEO, reached out to Duvi Honig to discuss his ongoing support for Israel and his strong condemnation of the union who supports Hamas.
I stoped going there years ago .
You never missed something you never had
Next time use an Armenean coffee cup. Oops, my bad, none left after Turkey murdered over 1,000,000 in genocide.
Turkey is a moderate Muslim country trying to protect themselves against the….. They’re trying to divide the world into pro Israel or pro-muslim that is a very definitive perception of what’s happening.
They are trying to do this with force and imposing their ideals on the majority of the planet.
I personally do not buy Starbucks because I do not have any interest in any of the products or services they offer. But now I want to get a Starbucks bumper sticker or something. (That would also not be supporting the labor union.)
The Israeli media Outlets should hire her immediately
So both the Turks and the Jews are upset with Starbucks?