News anchor in Turkey fired after appearing in broadcast with Starbucks cup amid Israel boycotts

A news anchor in Turkey was fired for violating advertising restrictions after appearing in a broadcast on air with a Starbucks cup. 

Turkey's TGRT Haber revealed earlier this week that anchor Meltem Günay and her show's director were let go after she went on air with a Starbucks cup near her during a live broadcast.

The outlet said that Günay violated advertising restrictions, according to Fox News.

"[I]t is strictly forbidden for the announcer to present on TGRT News TV in a way that will covertly advertise any company," the news station said in a statement on X. 

The station added that Günay had upset the company's Muslim viewers who had "sensitivities" about Starbucks and its stance on the Israel-Hamas war. 

"Our institution has an understanding that knows the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding Gaza and defends them to the end," the statement continued. "It is absolutely impossible to approve any action or publication contrary to this. We do not approve of this action of the presenter and director, whose employment contracts were terminated, and we strongly condemn it. For this reason, their employment contracts were terminated."

There have been widespread assumptions that Starbucks is pro-Israel due to a lawsuit with Workers United. 

After the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas, the Starbucks Workers United account posted "Solidarity with Palestine!" on X. The post is now deleted. 

Starbucks sued the labor union for using its name and logo in the post.