Lady Gaga fans, beware! Starbucks coupon featuring the singer is a scam
Latte lovers hoping to score a free Starbucks drink are now sounding the alarm about a suspicious promotion that's been making the rounds on Twitter.
On Tuesday, Lady Gaga announced that she would be releasing a music video for "Stupid Love," a song off her highly anticipated sixth album, at midnight on Friday. After the superstar's announcement, a digital coupon encouraging people to post a photo of themselves listening to the song, which leaked online earlier this month, started popping up in people's social media feeds.
The Unicorn Frappuccino-colored post also featured very official-looking logos from Spotify and Apple Music.
"Screenshot yourself listening to 'Stupid Love' by Lady Gaga and post a photo to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #StupidLoveBucks to receive a voucher for a free drink of choice via Direct Message!" read the promotion.
Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right?
Starbucks is celebrating Lady Gaga's new song that arrives this Friday, here's your chance to win a free drink of choice. Simply post a screenshot of yourself listening to "Stupid Love" with the hashtag, #STUPIDLOVEBUCKS for a free drink of choice! pic.twitter.com/FyR3CqucqE
— THIS FRIDAY., 🇦🇷 (@_luzuplay) February 25, 2020
As they eagerly awaited the "Shallow" singer's new video, several Little Monsters took to Twitter claiming they'd posted a pic and received their free drink already.
Its so delicious @Starbucks #STUPIDLOVEBUCKS thank you @ladygaga 💗🙏🏽 #StupidLove pic.twitter.com/pX4N8P13sG
— stupid love 💋 (@onetearleftocry) February 25, 2020
One account with the name Starbucks Coffee even got in on the action, further confusing those curious about the offer.
We are celebrating Lady Gaga's new song that arrives this Friday, here's your chance to win a free drink of choice. Simply post a screenshot of yourself listening to "Stupid Love" with the hashtag, #STUPIDLOVEBUCKS for a free drink of choice! #STUPIDLOVE pic.twitter.com/ujbUTt8Kw4
— Starbucks Coffee ❁ (@chromotica) February 25, 2020
One person even shared a fake voice recording of "Gaga" endorsing the coupon.
NEW LADY GAGA X STARBUCKS PROMO #STUPIDLOVEBUCKS pic.twitter.com/PbJ3YNUE1I
— #STUPIDLOVE OUT NOW (@chromaticka) February 25, 2020
After the digital flyer floated around for a few days, several tweeters turned to the official Starbucks customer service Twitter account for a confirmation about the offer.
Hello, sorry for any confusion, but this is not a valid Starbucks offer. The best way to confirm a promotion is through our Starbucks mobile app.
— Starbucks Help (@StarbucksHelp) February 28, 2020
A Starbucks spokesperson also confirmed to TODAY Food that the Twitter promotion was not a valid offer, and reiterated @StarbucksHelp's suggestion to confirm any deals via the Starbucks app or by reaching out to the chain online.
The coupon may be a fake — and Frapp fans may be disappointed — but Lady Gaga and her most devoted followers are having the last laugh as her new single climbs the charts thanks to the fake offer.
However, if the promotion had been real, it wouldn't be the first time Lady Gaga partnered with Starbucks.
In 2017, the coffee chain donated 25 cents from every "Cup of Kindness" beverage sold to the singer's Born This Way Foundation for a limited time.