Some things look simple—just a cute cup, just a festive launch—but then the whole internet erupts.
And suddenly a feel-good moment becomes a mess no one saw coming.

Starbucks thought it had a holiday hit when it released its new “bearista” cup, a glass tumbler shaped like an adorable little bear. Fans across the U.S. set alarms, woke up before sunrise, and stood in long lines just to grab one. Many treated it like a tiny piece of holiday magic.

But when doors opened, that excitement quickly turned into anger.

People arrived at their local Starbucks only to discover one cup… maybe two… or none at all. Some stores were sold out before customers even stepped inside. Others claimed the cups were purchased by employees before business hours. The disappointment felt personal—especially for those who woke up at 4 a.m. for a cup that cost nearly thirty dollars.

Then came the turning point.
One furious customer wrote, “They only left ONE out for sale and took the rest to the back.”
Another added that an employee had grabbed the only cup available before the store even opened.

Videos flooded TikTok. Complaints spread across X. What began as a seasonal release now looked like a holiday scandal.

With outrage boiling over, Starbucks issued a public apology. The company admitted demand was far higher than expected—even though they shipped more bearista cups than almost any other holiday item this year. Starbucks apologized for the disappointment and promised more festive merchandise soon.

Still, one truth lingers: when people feel ignored, the magic fades fast.

And this season, a cute cup reminded everyone how quickly joy can turn into frustration—especially when expectations are high and supply runs out.