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**Starbucks Apologizes After Limited-Edition Teddy Bear-Shaped Holiday Cup Sparks Chaos**

*By Cecily | November 7, 2025 | Fox Business*

Starbucks has issued an apology to customers following the release of its limited-edition teddy bear-shaped holiday cup, which sparked chaos across the country.

The Seattle-based coffee giant launched its 2025 holiday menu and merchandise on Thursday, featuring the Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup priced at $29.95. This collectible cup, shaped like a bear and topped with a green beanie lid, quickly went viral online and sold out rapidly, leaving fans scrambling to get their hands on one.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations and, despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast,” a Starbucks spokesperson told FOX Business in an email.

The high demand for the Bearista cup created a frenzy reminiscent of Black Friday shopping, prompting Starbucks to apologize for the limited availability and supply chain challenges.

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### Public Reaction

The response on social media and various forums has been mixed. Some customers expressed disappointment over the scarcity, while others critiqued the hype around the merchandise.

“Starbucks getting the jump on some Black Friday-style stupidity and hype,” commented one user.

Others remain steadfast in their decision to avoid Starbucks altogether. “This just adds to the other zillion reasons we will not get near a ‘Starbutts.’ Life is too short to consume Starbutts,” wrote another.

Many also pointed out the role of social media influencers in fueling the craze. “Don’t forget about the influencers as well,” one user noted.

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### About the Bearista Cup

The Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup is part of Starbucks’ holiday merchandise collection, designed to be a fun and collectible item for fans. Priced at $29.95, the bear-shaped cup with a green beanie lid quickly became a coveted item among Starbucks enthusiasts.

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*For more updates and news, visit foxbusiness.com.*

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*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management.*

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**Keywords:** Starbucks, Holiday Cup, Bearista Cup, Holiday Merchandise, Limited Edition, Viral Products, Customer Apology, 2025 Holiday Season

**Topics:** Business/Economy, Society, Pop Culture
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4351520/posts

**Amazon Announces Major Corporate Layoffs Amid Industry-Wide Cutbacks**

*Posted by algore*

Seattle-based retail giant Amazon has confirmed it will cut approximately 14,000 corporate jobs, with employees beginning to receive layoff notices starting Tuesday. The exact number of positions affected in Washington state remains unclear.

Nick Pasion, a reporter for the Puget Sound Business Journal who covers big tech, shared insights from Amazon employees who say their managers are remaining tight-lipped. However, “there is a palpable sense of fear within the company,” as many are concerned about the possibility of being impacted personally or seeing friends lose their jobs.

Amazon employs about 350,000 corporate workers globally, making the potential reduction of up to 14,000 jobs a substantial cut. Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire, highlighted the magnitude: “If you’re talking about up to 30,000 cuts globally, that’s a pretty significant portion.”

While Amazon has yet to confirm the layoffs publicly or provide an official reason, some analysts suggest the moves may be part of post-pandemic downsizing efforts. According to Pasion, “Amazon notoriously overhired during the pandemic, increasing headcount by tens of thousands.” The company has already taken steps to correct this, laying off 27,000 employees across 2022 and 2023.

An emerging theory is that Amazon is shifting focus to reinvest in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. “Data centers, chips, power — these are incredibly expensive to build and maintain,” said Pasion. “Many companies are diverting free cash flow into AI infrastructure and hiring high-paid AI scientists to develop internal models.”

Amazon is not alone in facing tech industry layoffs. Microsoft, another Puget Sound-area giant, has cut 15,000 positions globally this year.

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**Microsoft Faces Political Backlash Over Visa Program Amid Layoffs**

Vice President J.D. Vance publicly criticized Microsoft for recent job cuts juxtaposed with continued applications for H-1B work visas. “I don’t want companies to fire 9,000 American workers and then say they can’t find workers in America,” Vance declared.

Former White House advisor Steve Bannon echoed these concerns, calling for a halt to all visa programs during widespread layoffs.

Social media users have amplified the controversy by noting reports that Microsoft filed over 14,000 H-1B visa requests in 2025, fueling outrage over perceived exploitation of the visa system despite significant workforce reductions.

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*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the views of Free Republic or its management.*

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Tag: seattle-based

Starbucks apologizes after Bearista cup launch sparks chaos: ‘Exceeded even our biggest expectations’

Big layoffs at Amazon, big implications for Seattle’s economy