Turkish Newscaster Appears On Camera with Starbucks Coffee Cup, Gets Fired for Being ‘Pro-Israeli’

Veteran journalist and television news anchor Meltem Günay was fired from her role from TGRT Haber for appearing on camera with a Starbucks coffee cup – an action that was interpreted as being pro-Israeli and insensitive to the plight of the Palestinian people.

The award-winning TV news anchor’s action was deemed provocative by the media company. “(We have) an understanding that knows the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding Gaza and defends them to the end. We do not approve of this action of the presenter and director, whose employment contracts were terminated, and we strongly condemn it,” TGRT Haber said in a statement.

They said that the actions of the anchor and the director of the newscast were contrary to the principles of the media company with respect to the people of Gaza and Palestinians.

Turkish citizens have staged a nationwide boycott of Starbucks in recent weeks as they believe that the Seattle-based coffee chain is pro-Israel. Videos have been shared on social media where pro-Palestinian sympathizers have staged protests outside Starbucks outlets and were seen urging customers to stop buying coffee from there.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been critical of Israel’s military offensive targeting Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed over 1,100 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took over 250 hostages. He has also called Israel a “terror state”.

Even though Turkey and Israel restored full diplomatic ties in 2022, Ankara does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

Erdoğan has publicly criticised Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and termed him “the butcher of Gaza” for the rising deaths in Gaza Strip owing to Israel’s retaliatory attack. Over 20,000 people have died in Gaza Strip and millions have been displaced as the blockaded coastal enclave turns into rubble due to Israel’s incessant bombing and ground invasion.

Faced with agitations across several countries, Starbucks has said those disrupting its stores over the Israel-Hamas war were being driven by false information. Starbucks also said they stood for “humanity”. It has earlier tried to distance itself from pro-Palestine stand by a workers’ union — which angered many.