Starbucks uses ‘Game of Thrones’ gaffe to lift its brand

The coffee chain trended worldwide on Twitter and garnered several headlines after viewers of HBO’s hit show claimed the brand’s classic cup made an appearance in Westeros.

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Earned media coverage wins over a paid advertisement—even if the headlines are due to an accident.

Starbucks was recently thrust into the spotlight when social media users went crazy over a seemingly large editing error in Sunday’s “Game of Thrones” episode “The Last of the Starks.”

Many viewers pointed out the coffee chain’s iconic cup on the table during a scene:

NJ.com reported:

The cup makes an appearance in a scene at Winterfell in which Tormund Giantsbane is toasting his friend Jon Snow as part of a post-battle meal where the wine is flowing.

This downtime is a welcome respite from death and destruction, but Daenerys Targaryen eyes the scene suspiciously. Threatened by Jon’s secret status as true heir to the Iron Throne, she looks slightly miffed to witness all the love for him from various northmen.

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