Target has apologized after a Starbucks barista at one of its stores wrote the name "ISIS" on a customer's cup, calling it "an unfortunate mistake."

Last Wednesday, a 19-year old woman in St. Paul was shocked when her order at the Starbucks location inside the St. Paul-Midway Target had the name "ISIS" written on it instead of "Aishah." ISIS is the acronym for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, a militant group identified by the United Nations as a terrorist organization. The woman, who is Muslim and was wearing a head covering, asked the barista why ISIS was written on the cup. According to a statement from The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), the employee misheard the customer's name. Aishah has said that she repeated her name, though the barista never asked her how to spell it.

When she asked to speak with the manager, the manager reportedly replied, “What is the issue? People get their names wrong all the time," says CAIR-MN. The customer was then sent away with a new drink and a $25 gift card.

"I could not believe that in a day and age like this people could still do hurtful things. I felt humiliated, I felted enraged, I felt belittled," Aishah said in a press release from CAIR-MN. She has since filed a formal complaint with Target, which manages the Starbucks inside the St. Paul-Midway Target location.

According to Bring Me the News, Target has said the incident was "not a deliberate act but an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with a simple clarification."

"At Target, we want everyone who shops with us to feel welcomed, valued and respected and we strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment in any form. We are very sorry for this guest’s experience at our store and immediately apologized to her when she made our store leaders aware of the situation. 

 

"We have investigated the matter and believe that it was not a deliberate act but an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with a simple clarification. We’re taking appropriate actions with the team member, including additional training, to ensure this does not occur again."

Target has also acknowledged that the barista was a minor and "very upset" about the mistake. Depending on the individual's age, it is possible he or she was unfamiliar with the history and definition of the acronym ISIS.

Last month, Target CEO Brian Cornell announced that the corporation was committed to standing against racism and pledged $10 million to advance social justice and support rebuilding and recovery efforts in local communities.