A recent social media post by well-known content creator Liu Shenglei has sparked widespread discussion online. Liu shared that while seated and working at a Starbucks in Shanghai's Xuhui West Bund Dream Center, he was told by staff that his seat belonged to a "pet zone" and would need to be vacated for customers arriving with cats or dogs.

In response to the incident, Starbucks China addressed the feedback after being contacted for verification. The company acknowledged the customer's complaint and stated that it had immediately looked into the situation at the store, recognizing that shortcomings in on-site arrangements and service coordination led to an unsatisfactory experience.

"We have extended our sincere apologies to the customer and have already taken steps to improve," a Starbucks China representative said. "The pet area will no longer be set up inside this store. Customers with pets will be asked to sit in the outdoor pet-friendly zone."

The company added, "We appreciate every customer's feedback and will continue to optimize store space management and service procedures, striving to provide a more comfortable and welcoming environment for all."