The most recent episode of Game of Thrones gifted Starbucks over $2.3 billion dollars in advertising by mistake.
During a feast scene where several of the main characters from the GOT universe including Daenerys Targaryen sit down to enjoy a lavish meal, a cup resembling the Starbucks coffee carton can be seen in the frame on the table.
The logo is blurry however eagle-eyed viewers claim to be sure that the cup is in fact from the coffee retailer.
HBO, the network behind the Game of Thrones series, denied the claim in a press release.
They said, “In response to inquiries from those who saw a craft services coffee cup in Sunday night’s episode of Game of Thrones, the latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea”.
Stacy Jones, the CEO of marketing company Hollywood Branded, estimated that the free publicity was worth $2.3 billion dollars (£1.7 billion pounds). Stacy said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime collision of opportunity for Starbucks. But really, this is just the tip of the iceberg, because what isn’t being monitored or estimated is the word of mouth and social media on top of this”.
Stacy is referring to the onslaught of memes, viral videos and social media trends that ensued after the episode aired and experts have said that the accidental advertising is what makes the publicity so valuable.
As we keep you updated with Game of Thrones as the final season continues to air, click here to read our exclusive feature on seven of the best references to the show in rap lyrics.