While many people view the logo as a cute and harmless mermaid, it actually depicts a mythical Siren. In Greek mythology, Sirens were alluring yet dangerous creatures that used their seductive voices to lure sailors towards destruction. They would entice sailors to shipwreck on rocky coasts, leading to their demise.
The original Starbucks logo featured a bare-breasted female Siren with two serpentine tails spread apart, which some found suggestive and inappropriate. This design sparked significant controversy during the early days of the company, leading to several redesigns of the logo.
From DoctorDavidFriedman.com:
In an article published by Revealing Truth, it was claimed that the Starbucks logo also has sinister roots. By turning the original Starbucks logo upside down, you can see the image of satan. In 2014, Starbucks got into trouble after its employees were drawing satanic pentagrams and the number "666" in the foam of coffee.
In 1987, the logo went from brown to green and the Siren’s fully exposed perky breasts were now covered by her hair. However, more emphasis was being placed on her crotch area which now had a triangular shape with a hole in the center. Her arms aid in helping spread apart her two serpentine tails into a Yoga Baby Pose position. A Christian group based in San Diego created a movement calling for a national boycott of the coffee-selling giant. Spokesperson Mark Dice stated, “The Starbucks logo has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute… the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks.” Harvard symbolist Gary L. Blankstein said,
“In ancient folklore, Sirens were believed to be the bodies of deceased prostitutes, possessed by the devil to seek revenge on unfaithful sailors.”
All the negativity finally convinced Starbucks to tone things down. In 1992, the Starbucks logo cropped out the seductive Siren spreading apart her two legs (Uhm, I mean tails), and her torso and crotch shot was also removed from the frame. They were finally leaving a latte to the imagination.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Starbucks did a minor logo redesign. The Siren’s “naughty parts” still remained covered and cropped out and the words “Starbucks coffee” were removed. This decision was based on the fact that Starbucks was now selling many things beyond just coffee and they wanted to expand their brand.
So, there you have it—the slightly creepy yet intriguing backstory of the infamous Starbucks logo.
Interestingly, many people still find the mythological elements of the logo appealing, and some believe this could be a factor that attracts numerous customers to the establishment on a daily basis.
Perhaps it's the allure of the mythical Siren that keeps people coming back, because let's be honest, paying $5 for a cup of coffee that tastes like water doesn't seem to make much sense otherwise...
