Missouri AG sues Starbucks for DEI hiring practices that forced workforce to be ‘more female and less white’

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) sued Starbucks for DEI policies that he charged led to unlawful discrimination.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) protocols adopted by Starbucks had the coffee chain prioritizing sex and race in its hiring practices while subjecting employees to segregated training and benefits, a lawsuit filed by Bailey on Tuesday alleges.

In a thread on X, Bailey explained further.

“Discrimination has no place in Missouri,” Baily asserted and cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that prohibits discrimination based on race.

Discrimination has no place in Missouri.

— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) February 11, 2025

Starbucks enforces race-and-sex-based hiring practices, unlawfully segregates employees, and provides exclusive training and employment benefits to select groups in violation of anti-discrimination laws.

— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) February 11, 2025

We’re fighting back.

— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) February 11, 2025

In addition, Starbucks had also vowed to implement mentorship programs for BIOPIC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) employees with special advancement opportunities, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit cited a Starbucks memo from 2021 that touted its own diversity goals aiming for 30 percent BIOPIC employment in corporate roles and 40 percent at retail levels.

“With Starbucks’ discriminatory patterns, practices, and policies, Missouri’s consumers are required to pay higher prices and wait longer for goods and services that could be provided for less had Starbucks employed the most qualified workers, regardless of their race, color, sex, or national origin,” Bailey said in a news release.

Bailey charged that Starbucks used it diversity quotas to make its workforce “more female and less white,” and cited a trend within its employment data between 2020 – 2024 that indicated that allegation.

The lawsuit seeks to immediately end Starbucks’ DEI policies that discriminate against white Americans.

Starbucks denied the discrimination allegations launched against it.

“We disagree with the attorney general and these allegations are inaccurate,” Starbucks said in a statement to KTVI. “We are deeply committed to creating opportunity for every single one of our partners (employees). Our programs and benefits are open to everyone and lawful. Our hiring practices are inclusive, fair and competitive and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job every time.”

Bailey, however, was roundly applauded on X for his move:

AG Bailey warrior for the Constitution and America.

— Ralynn (@Ralynn969) February 11, 2025

All DEI, AA corporate policies must be abolished for the racist garbage that they are pic.twitter.com/dRQgQEKdhe

— AnonSynonymous6 (@anonsynonymous6) February 11, 2025

wow- some of the AGs are feeling emboldened to go after these racist woke corporations.

— Janet Garts (@janet_gart87502) February 11, 2025

YES! DEI is RACISM hidden in SOCIATIAL GUILT. The soft bigotry of low expectations is still racism.

— Vern (@VRayz4) February 11, 2025

@POTUS We have a great AG in Missouri.

— the Republic, for which it stands (@okieranchers) February 11, 2025

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