Starbucks employee draws picture of pig on L.A. deputy’s coffee cup

A doodle of a pig that was allegedly drawn on the coffee cup of a deputy with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (@WTRF7News/X)

A deputy with the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department who placed an order at Starbucks was allegedly given a coffee cup with a cartoon pig drawn on it.

In a release posted to Instagram, the department wrote it was “deeply concerned” about the incident, which allegedly took place on Jan. 9.

“A deputy, who had stopped for coffee, was deliberately served a cup bearing a hand-drawn image of a pig, which is commonly used to demean law enforcement,” the statement read. “This action was extremely offensive, inappropriate, and unacceptable.”

The statement goes on to say that the sheriff reached out to someone at Starbuck’s corporate security division to “formally raise concerns and to ensure accountability.” The sheriff also checked in on the well-being of the deputy in question, conveying his support and stressed that the actions were disrespectful and not to be tolerated.

“Our deputies are part of the community and deserve to be treated respectfully and with basic human dignity,” the statement said. “Acts that promote hostility and division toward law enforcement undermine community trust and public safety.”

In an email, a spokesperson for Starbucks said the drawing is a reference to a a popular meme known as “John Pork”, or “John Pork is Calling”, with no connection to law enforcement. The company’s representative said the coffee cup with the doodle on it “was never intended to be delivered to any customer — and it should not have been.”

“It was placed on the cup earlier in the day, intended to uplift partners working behind the bar, and occurred hours before the officer arrived at the store and placed his order,” the statement read. “This was unacceptable.”

A representative from Starbucks has reached out to the customer several times and leaders in the Sheriff’s Department to apologize, and attempted to “make it right with the customer in real time in our coffeehouse.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that those involved “are no longer with Starbucks.”

“John Pork” and “John Pork is Calling,” is based on an online influencer who resembles an anthropomorphic man pig.