As I type this, Christopher Cristwell, a 25-year-old ex-Starbucks barista from Chowchilla, is going viral. His story has already made Boing Boing and The Daily What, among other top blogs. That story? He put "The Starbucks Rant Song" on YouTube a few weeks back. On Tuesday his humorous ditty about customer service got him fired by 'Bucks brass.
Our sister newspaper The Merced Sun-Star got ahold of Cristwell. Its story explains:
The video was picked up by a popular Starbucks blog last week, which quickly caught the attention of the corporate honchos. After several meetings with managers, he was sent packing.
"They were really cool about it. The regional manager complimented me on my creative ability -- not on that specific song -- and then asked me why I did it. They were really trying to find out about my intent behind the videos."The intent, he says, was strictly satire. He said he never actually did any of the shortcuts he sings about, such as filling a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with whipped cream because most customers can't tell the difference. "I'm not trying to say it's a healthy song, but it's definitely satire," he said.
Read more of the story.
Once he got the news that he got canned by Starbucks -- or maybe cupped, in this case -- Cristwell released a follow-up video:
Here's hoping Christwell gets a Tosh.0 web redemption in the near future.
This was actually a cheap life lesson, as workplace lessons go. Better he learn not to trash talk his customers or employers while earning minimum wage than later in life when he's making six figures with children to support.
My wife says she wants to give him a job.
Obviously you have not learned your lesson. I am hopeful that maturity will reach you at some point in your life. I am African American and I have never ordered Strawberries and Cream or what ever drink you were referring too. You are a racist and Starbucks was correct in terminating you. I do not believe you ever loved your job nor the customers. And if you do not want to be paid minimum wage you must take the opportunity to better yourself and go to college so that you can get the job you think you deserve. Wow....you are really something and I'll bet one of your best friends is (black, asian, latino) get my point. Put the "white hood on and then we all will know who we are dealing with.
Have a Blessed Day.
Are you a MULATO and also 1/2 American and 100% racist?
In Chief Justice John Roberts' majority opinion in the 2007 school ruling, one line rang loudest: "the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race."
Wow, Barbara. Really? Your comment is the most laughable here. You're mad at him for his "racist" remarks, but here you are, telling him to "put on his white hood". That isn't racist? Because he's WHITE he's a racist? As a person who worked at Starbucks for 4 years, this video is SPOT ON. Not everyone is racist because they say something that YOU don't like. Reverse racism is still racism, lady.
His voice is not bad, and he's good looking. Maybe somebody will spot him and want to make him a pop star.
He seems like a good kid, actually. I wish him luck!
Knowing chris and his friends I will tell you, it was taken as a satire like it was meant.this song is absolutely hilarious. And for someone who doesn't know him,i wonder where you get off calling him racist. Please, it was a joke, get the stick out of your ass.
Did he say "If I have to serve another latino"
HEY STARBUCKS BOY YOU HAVE A GREAT VOICE AND PLAY WELL IN YOUR GUITAR. MAYBE YOU CAN START MAKING COMMERCIALS ON TV. BUT YOU SURE HAD ALOT TO SAY BUT ITS HOW YOU FEEL. I DON'T FEEL OFFENDED BY ANYTHING YOU SAY. ITS YOUR WAY OF EXPRESSING YOURSELF AND NOONE CAN CHANGE YOU. WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS TOO AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE US BUT AT LEAST YOU WERE SO LUCKY TO WORK FOR STARBUCKS FOR FIVE LONG YEARS THATS A RECORD COMPARED TO ME. GOOD LUCK FINDING ANOTHER JOB.
I used to work with chris and he was a delight with customers. He never said anything bad about the small percentage that would make our lives a living hell. I miss him and I hope the different races that he mentions in his rants only see the reality of what their culture mainly orders on the daily that leaves the rest of the baristas to question their requests. He is the only reason I looked forward to going to work and I hope he is recognized for his talents and not his honesty that many people can't except. hopefully on his account maybe people would stop treating us like we are below poop scum. Thank you for writing our Starbucks anthem. You said what every other barista was bottling up!
Personally, I think he's either the dumbest guy in town or the smartest. He was probably thinking he could get his 15 minutes of fame and then find another barista job after it was over.
At least he's creative.