Starbucks apologizes for its bear cup drama. What’s behind the ‘Bearista’

Some phenomena in the history of humankind simply defy logic.

The Dancing Plague of 1518, for instance. The Bermuda Triangle. Images of Jesus on toast.

Perhaps it’s not our job to fully understand these mysteries, but simply to marvel at them — and that may also be the case for the sudden, seemingly inexplicable, absolute frenzy over a cup that’s shaped like a little bear.

Coffee chain Starbucks released a $43.95 “Bearista” glass cold cup Thursday as part of its new holiday collection, and not only did the hat-topped tumbler sell out almost immediately, but videos circulating online show customers fighting each other to get their paws on one.

Empty-handed fans who lined up before dawn are sharing their outrage on social media, re-sellers are listing them for as much as $1,400 on eBay, and Starbucks has even apologized for the disappointment amid allegations that the company only sent a handful of cups to individual stores.

“Shame on you Starbucks, shame on you,” wrote someone on the Starbucks subreddit Thursday who says they woke up at 4:30 a.m., went to multiple stores, and still couldn’t find a cup.

“Girls were physically fighting at my Starbucks for these,” wrote someone on a Starbucks Instagram post.

“Corporate only sending two per store on average was no matter what gonna cause a bloodbath,” wrote someone else on Reddit.

Starbucks told CBC News they’d shipped more Bearista cups to stores “than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season,” but didn’t provide the numbers.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” a spokesperson for Starbucks said in an email statement. 

“We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused.”

But what, pray tell, is so special about a cup that, as many have pointed out, looks like a cross between a Billy Bee honey bottle and those vintage Kraft peanut butter jars? And why was it so difficult for people to get one?

We’ll try to explain the drama.

A cup is born

The Bearista cup appears to have first been announced Oct. 6, one month before it went on sale in North America as part of the chain’s holiday merch drop.

“Your drinks have never looked cuter,” Starbucks said in its online description of the cup, which is topped with a green hat and a striped straw. “Who’s getting a bearista cup on 11/6 lmk [let me know], the chain posted on Instagram Wednesday.

The reaction was immediate. “If I don’t get one of these I’ll cry,” wrote TV personality Raven Gates, who was on The Bachelor, in the comments of Starbucks’ Instagram post.

“Stop, this is so cute,” wrote influencer Piper…