Controversy Brews: Costa Coffee faces boycott calls over trans mural on van — what we know so far

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

coffee chain Costa Coffee is finding itself at the center of a heated debate after a mural featuring a transgender surfer with mastectomy scars adorned one of its mobile Express Vans. The advertisement created for last year's Pride Festival ignited controversy and calls for boycotts from various groups and activists.

The cartoon-style mural on the Costa Coffee van showcases a trans surfer, raising a cup with two visible scars indicating they have undergone top surgery, a procedure involving the removal of breast tissue to achieve a more masculine chest contour. While Costa Coffee asserts that the mural celebrates inclusivity and diversity, a section of activists argue that it promotes the idea of unnecessary medical procedures for young individuals.

Laurence Fox, the former London mayoral candidate and leader of the Reclaim Party, took to social media to criticize Costa Coffee, accusing the coffee chain of endorsing the «mutilation» of young people's bodies through the promotion of mastectomy surgeries. He called for a complete boycott of the brand, urging consumers to «vote with their wallets» against what he perceived as harmful messaging.

The controversy surrounding the mural has ignited passionate responses from people on social media platforms. For Women Scotland raised concerns on Twitter about the mural's potentially distressing impact on breast cancer survivors, while author Ugla Stefania supported the illustration and praised it as a positive representation of trans individuals.

In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for Costa Coffee defended the mural,