US cable channel HBO quietly removed a stray coffee cup that had snuck in the background of the latest episode of their hit show Game of Thrones, scrubbing the paper cup digitally on its streaming services overnight. The cup which appeared to be from popular coffee chain Starbucks had led to many jokes and memes on social media, with viewers questioning how such an anachronistic object could be left in a frame of the fantasy series. The cup appears on a table in front of Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) during a grand feast scene.
American viewers attempting to watch Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4, titled The Last of the Starks, on HBO’s streaming services HBO Go and HBO Now will notice that the infamous cup has been edited out. However, as of Wednesday 8 May, Indian streaming platform Hotstar still features the original version of the episode with the cup still visible. Game of Thrones streams in India exclusively on Hotstar.
HBO addressed the controversy with a tongue-in-cheek statement, saying that “The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.” The channel also promised that all future airings of the episode will featured the edited version.
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