It’s been over 24 hours since the world was introduced to the unintended Starbucks/”Game of Thrones” crossover. Last Sunday’s episode of the HBO series, set in the fictitious world of Westeros, became the subject of a million memes when eagle-eyed viewers realized that a Starbucks coffee cup was shown in one of the scenes. The inclusion of the cup was a clear mistake, but somehow snuck through the post-production process.
Now, thanks to an interview with Deadline and a statement by HBO, we can get to the bottom of how it all happened. (If that’s something you care about.)
David Nutter, the director of “The Last of the Starks,” wasn’t too keen on talking about the faux pas in an interview. Instead, he deferred to HBO.
“Well, I think that HBO I’m sure will come up with a response to that more appropriate than anything I can throw at you,” said Nutter.
And yes, HBO did have a response. And yes, it was better than what Nutter said.
“The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake,” the network said in a statement. “Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.”
At least HBO is having a bit of fun with it. Obviously, for Nutter and the folks that worked in the crew, the oversight is embarrassing. Adding to it, the fact that it went viral and everyone around the world has poked fun at the mistake only makes things worse.
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That being said, the network wasn’t ready to stop with just a statement. According to Variety, by Tuesday morning, the episode has already been altered, with the cup magically disappearing from the frame. Clearly, this is the handiwork of some quickly thrown together CGI editing. So, for fans of the series that watched it live or have saved the appropriate screenshots, the Starbucks cup will live on in infamy.
You better believe that all eyes will be on the next episode, which airs on Sunday night, just to find the next big mistake on “Game of Thrones.” Or, you could just enjoy the series? Up to you.
Here’s the cup, for those that missed it:
