Latest news with #DollyChaiwala
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
No, Dolly Chaiwala isn't Starbucks India's brand ambassador, company clarifies
Starbucks India has refuted the viral claims that it appointed internet icon Dolly Chaiwala as their brand ambassador. What began as an April Fool's meme turned into full-blown confusion online, so much so that Starbucks India had to step in with a media users were quick to believe claims that Dolly Chaiwala, the tea-seller from Nagpur who rose to fame for his flamboyant style and theatrics, had been appointed as the official brand ambassador for Starbucks India. But the coffee giant has firmly denied the a statement posted on LinkedIn, TATA Starbucks said it had 'no official brand ambassador in India.' It also addressed the viral meme that sparked the confusion, saying that it had been 'created independently by a third party' and was 'misconstrued as a formal campaign.' The brand further added, 'TATA Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity and we value the trust of our customers and communities.'The now-viral rumour began when a meme surfaced online claiming Dolly Chaiwala, whose real name is Sunil Patil, had officially joined hands with Starbucks as their ambassador. The post, originally meant to be a prank, surfaced across platforms without much a look at Starbucks' LinkedIn post here: Dolly, known for his distinctive get-up, waistcoat, chunky gold chains, bold sunglasses, and gravity-defying hairstyle, has a massive following online. His unique method of making tea and serving it with flair turned him into an internet year, he found himself in the spotlight again when none other than Bill Gates visited his stall for a quick cup of chai, adding further to his viral Reel
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
Starbucks Breaks Silence On Dolly Chaiwala Brand Ambassador Reports With A ‘No'
Last Updated: Viral April Fool's meme featuring Dolly Chaiwala sparked brand ambassador rumours following which Tata Starbucks issued an official clarification. Tata Starbucks has officially denied appointing viral tea seller Dolly Chaiwala as their brand ambassador following a surge of social media posts claiming otherwise. The confusion stemmed from a meme posted as an April Fool's Day prank, which many netizens took seriously, leading to widespread speculation of a supposed partnership. The coffeehouse and roastery reserve, in their statement on LinkedIn, wrote that Starbucks India does not have any brand ambassadors. In particular, they clarified that no collaboration has been made with Dolly Chaiwala. 'We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered into any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala," the brand wrote in their post on LinkedIn. Tata Starbucks has clarified that it has no association with viral tea seller Dolly Chaiwala, following a wave of social media buzz sparked by an April Fool's Day meme. The meme, which showed Dolly—real name Sunil Patil—posing in front of a photoshopped Starbucks logo, falsely claimed he was appointed as the brand's ambassador in India. In an official statement shared on LinkedIn, the company said the image was independently created and 'misconstrued" as part of a formal campaign. They stressed that Tata Starbucks does not have any brand ambassadors in India and reaffirmed their commitment to 'accuracy, authenticity, and the trust of our customers and communities." The rumour reportedly began after a social media user shared the meme without context, leading many to believe the claim was legitimate. Soon, the image went viral, with thousands resharing it across platforms. Dolly Chaiwala, a popular tea vendor from Nagpur, is known for his flamboyant personality and theatrical tea-making style, which has made him a social media sensation. Dolly Chaiwala became the brand ambassador of Starbucks India — Dixit Dave (@dixit_dave_) April 1, 2025 Who Is Dolly Chaiwala? Dolly Chaiwala is a well-known street tea vendor from Nagpur with his unique outfit — waistcoats, gold chains, unmistakable hairstyles, and large sunglasses. His attitude and theatrics while serving customers have made him the centrepiece of social media viral content in India. His celebrity status grew when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates made an unexpected visit to his stall last year, where he served Gates tea which attracted international attention. First Published:
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
'Not entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala': Starbucks India clarifies as ‘meme' goes viral — check full post
Starbucks India-Dolly Chaiwala: Dismissing viral social media posts, Starbucks India has clarified that it does not have any official brand ambassadors — and that there has been 'no collaboration' between the brand and Dolly Chaiwala. 'A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign,' Tata Starbucks said in its statement. Speculations of Dolly Chaiwala being appointed as Tata Starbucks brand ambassador were on the rise after multiple social media posts — portraying Dolly Chaiwala as the ambassador of the multinational chain of coffeehouses — were doing the rounds, with some of them even going viral. One of the social media posts about Dolly Chaiwala and Starbucks India Unless you were living under a rock, or were completely detached from social media, you might have come across a viral image of Dolly Chaiwala and his tea stall. Dolly Chaiwala is a tea vendor from Nagpur who gained global recognition – courtesy — his unique and theatrical chai-making style, which went viral on social media. The Nagpur tea seller got everyone talking about him after former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates stopped by for a cup of his famous chai during a visit to India last year. Refuting claims of Dolly Chaiwala being appointed as the Starbucks India brand ambassador, the multinational chain further wrote: "Specifically, we have not entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala. A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign. TATA Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity and we value the trust of our customers and communities." Tata Starbucks is a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Consumer Products Limited (formerly Tata Global Beverages). Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through the joint venture with Tata Consumer Products. Its first store opened in Mumbai, and since then, the coffee chain has expanded rapidly, now operating over 400 outlets across the country.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Dolly Chaiwala is Starbucks' new brand ambassador? Company denies viral claim
Social media has been flooded with posts linking Dolly Chaiwala to Starbucks. Many claimed that the coffee chain giant appointed the internet sensation as their brand ambassador in India. The company, however, issued a clarification, stating that it has not 'entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala.' 'In light of recent conversations, we'd like to clarify that TATA Starbucks has no official brand ambassador in India,' Starbucks India posted on LinkedIn. 'CLARIFICATION REGARDING REPORTS OF STARBUCKS BRAND AMBASSADOR. We have noted recent social media posts suggesting that TATA Starbucks has appointed an official brand ambassador. We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala,' the company stated. 'A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign. TATA Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity and we value the trust of our customers and communities,' it continued. It all started with a meme created as an April Fool's Day prank. In the post, a social media user claimed that Starbucks has decided that Dolly Chaiwala (Sunil Patil) will be appointed as their formal brand ambassador. It didn't take long for people to reshare the post without verifying the fact, creating an online buzz that was finally addressed by the company. Dolly Chaiwala became an internet sensation for making tea in his unique style. Hailing from Nagpur, he is usually seen dressed in a waistcoat, large sunglasses, and gold chains around his neck. He also often sports a unique hairstyle. Last year, Dolly Chaiwala triggered a social media frenzy when Bill Gates visited his shop to drink tea prepared by him.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tata Starbucks denies appointing Dolly Chaiwala as brand ambassador
Tata Starbucks, the Indian arm of the global coffee chain, on Monday issued a clarification denying social media speculation that it had appointed Dolly Chaiwala as its brand ambassador in India. In a statement on its official LinkedIn account, the company said, ' Tata Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala.' How the rumour started The speculation began after a meme showing Dolly Chaiwala with the Starbucks logo went viral online, leading many to believe that a formal partnership had been announced. The post was widely shared across social media platforms. 'A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign,' Tata Starbucks said, adding that it remains 'committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity'. As of now, Tata Starbucks has no brand ambassadors representing it in India. Who is Dolly Chaiwala? Sunil Patil aka Dolly Chaiwala, a tea vendor from Nagpur, became an internet sensation for his dramatic tea-serving style. His videos, widely circulated on Instagram and YouTube, showcase his theatrical approach to preparing and serving tea, which quickly earned him a large online following. His viral fame even led to a widely publicised encounter with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates last year, further boosting his popularity. Dolly has also featured in various marketing campaigns, including in an advertisement for Indian food delivery giant Swiggy. The rumour around Dolly Chaiwala's association with Tata Starbucks seemed credible to many against the backdrop of India's rapidly growing influencer marketing industry, which is expected to expand by 25 per cent this year from ₹3,600 crore in 2024. A recent report by The Goat Agency and Kantar noted that over 20 mergers and acquisitions took place in the last year alone, as traditional and digital-first agencies ramped up their influencer marketing capabilities. The Indian government's recent announcement of a $1 billion fund to support content creators has further normalised the idea of hyperlocal influencers entering mainstream campaigns — making the rumour about a Starbucks tie-up appear plausible.
