Starbucks Employee Fired for Satirical Song

Sept. 22, 2011— -- A California Starbucks barista was fired from his job after a song he wrote and performed poking fun at some of his demanding customers went viral.

After a stressful day at work back in July, Christopher Cristwell posted "The Starbucks Rant Song" on YouTube. While wearing shorts and what appears to be a Starbucks apron, Christopher Cristwell strums away at his guitar singing an off-key, rapid-fire ode to the stereotypical customers that buy the pricey drinks.

In the rant song, Cristwell takes aim at everyone from the rich ladies who must learn that skinny lattes won't make you lose weight to the angry man that pounds on the window when the store is closed.

According to the former barista, his employer was not amused after coming across the video posted on Starbucksgossip.com.

The song, available on Youtube, came with this warning: "There are a few minor expletives in this song. Don't listen if you are sensitive to curse words."

"This is for everybody who has worked or works for Starbucks," he continues.

The song begins, "I know you've had a s****y day but so have I, I really don't want to care, but I get paid to try/hello rich white lady, I already know what you want, you want a skinny vanilla latte, young debutante/well that drink won't make you skinny, you gotta work for that, and just in case you're running, I just called you fat…"

And, while it may have gotten laughs from its intended audience at the beginning, two months later, the 25-year-old the chain gave him a pink slip.

"If people are offended by the song, I'm sorry but I can't make everybody happy," says the 25-year-old Chowchilla, Calif., resident.

"I'm going to make the people laugh that I intended to write the song for," says Cristwell.

But, it's nothing personal. "I stand by the satire. I stand by the comedy," he adds.

After around four years on the job, Cristwell says he had built good relationships at the store and, other than the occasional disgruntled customer, has no ill-will towards Starbucks patrons.

"It was a comedy song, and, ironically, it is not autobiographical. The customers that come into that store, I really love them a lot, I treat them well, and they treat me well. I sang the song to get a laugh," said Cristwell.

After being fired, Cristwell says there are no hard feelings. "I think they could have handled it a little differently but I'm not trying to tell them how they should do it. The song did poke fun at people employing baristas. I understand their position," Cristwell told ABCNews.

"I'm ok with it. I'm not bitter. I'm not trying to be a martyr," he continued.

What's up next? Cristwell is continuing his quest for Emergency Medical Technician certification and looking for a new place of employment.

"I really do need to get a job," says Cristwell. "I have a lot of bills I need to pay still. It's kind of unfortunate this made big headlines, it's probably going to be really hard to find a job."

Starbucks did not return our request for comment.

Watch "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET for more on YouTube viral videos.