HBO has digitally edited out a stray coffee cup from the latest episode of Game of Thrones, after fans noticed it and unleashed a stream of disbelief (and memes) on social media. The Verge reports that HBO has removed the cup from its streaming platform HBO Go, without making any announcements. But the cup can still be seen on Hostar, the Indian streaming service which airs GoT, as of when this story was published.

The distinctive paper cup with plastic cover was spotted on a table at a feast in Winterfell within reach of characters Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen during episode 4 of the final season, The Last of the Starks.

Bernie Caulfield, one of the executive producers of HBO's global hit television series, apologised to fans.

"I can't believe (it)," she said in an interview with New York's WNYC radio on Monday. "Our onset prop people and decorators are so on it a 1,000 percent. We're sorry! Westeros was the first place to actually have Starbucks," Caulfield quipped.

News from Winterfell.

The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. #Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea. pic.twitter.com/ypowxGgQRl

— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) May 6, 2019

In a tongue-in-cheek comment, HBO said that "the latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea."

Starbucks, the world's biggest coffee chain, had its own take on the unexpected publicity in a series that is watched by more than 30 million people in the United States alone.

"TBH we're surprised she didn't order a Dragon Drink," the company said on Twitter, referring to its summer menu addition of a bright pink fruit and coconut milk beverage that contains the tropical dragon fruit, also known as pitaya.

TBH we're surprised she didn't order a Dragon Drink.

— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) May 6, 2019

Fans lit up social media with memes and jokes about the stray cup, with some inserting the company's green and white logo on photos of castles featured in the series.

Others were dismayed at the gaffe. "They took 2 years to shoot 6 episodes and left a Starbucks cup in a scene," tweeted a user named Dylan.

The coffee cup can still be seen on Hotstar, as of when this story was published.

The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones has broken records for HBO, with more than 38 million American watching the season premiere episode that was broadcast on April 14.

The Emmy-winning series, an adaptation of George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels, comes to a conclusion on May 19. HBO had previously edited out two stray cameramen who’d entered the frame in an episode of Westworld.

(With Reuters inputs)

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First Published: May 07, 2019 20:24 IST