Starbucks Fail

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Graeme's social media video

STAMMA member Graeme Pickering takes to social media to complain when a Starbucks barista laughed at his stammer.

When choreographer Graeme ordered his morning latte at a Starbucks in Euston station, he got more than he bargained for. 

"The barista asked for my name, as they always do, and I stammered," Graham told us. "Recently my stammer has been so unpredictable, on random words. I struggle the most on names and places — I sometimes repeat sounds, but silent blocks are more my thing. The barista started to giggle. Straight away I said, 'Why are you finding the way I speak so funny?' She didn't know how to react and just smirked. I said again, 'why do you find it funny? I stammer and this is the way I talk'. Realising I was being serious she said, 'I didn't', to which I replied 'You did'. 

'I started to explain how important it is that someone in her position is understanding of all types of people but she looked so disinterested. It was at that moment I told her to cancel my order and asked to speak to her manager. Her manager came over and I told her what happened. She was nice and more empathetic but didn't know what to say. I told her I wanted to take it further so she gave me a phone number. When I called it, I got through to someone from their HR team on a number that it turned out was for internal use only! They, however, were helpful and gave me an email address to complain to.

I was determined to tell Starbucks how unacceptable their behaviour was. I am not prepared to have that reaction when I am giving them my money. 

'It was just disgraceful. It made me feel like I was inadequate, like I had been discriminated against and it ruined the rest of my day. But I was determined to tell Starbucks how unacceptable their behaviour was. I am not prepared to have that reaction when I am giving them my money. Pretty disgraceful I would say!

'It was the first time it's happened to me personally but at the last STAMMAFest conference, I remember someone telling everyone about the time they ordered a drink at Starbucks, and their cup was given to them with 'D-D-D-Daniel' written on it. Absolutely appalling!"

To share his outrage, Graeme posted a video about his experience on social media (see his TikTok video below). Others responded by sharing their own experiences. On TikTok, @meghenessey commented, "As someone with a stammer, the amount of laughs I get is crazy. With new people especially, I know it's an adjustment but I would never laugh in a stranger's face. Someone in a restaurant said to me 'why are you beat boxing'. Thank you for speaking about this x".