Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell glued himself to a counter in a Starbucks branch to protest the firm’s surcharge on vegan milk.
The 82-year-old, who is known for his roles in Succession, Babe: Pig in the City and LA Confidential, joined PETA activists at the protest in New York City.
He sat on a counter wearing a ‘Free the Animals’ T-shirt and read a statement denouncing the surcharge for dairy milk alternatives.
“More than 13,000 customers have asked you, now we’re asking you,” he said.
“Will you stop charging more for vegan milk?
“When will you stop raking in huge profits while customers, animals and the environment suffer?
“When will you stop penalising people for their ethnicities, their morals?”
Cromwell went on to say the “senseless” charge affects mother cows – which are forced to reproduce to keep up with the demand for milk and then are separated from their calves.
“These mothers must endure the loss of their child over and over again,” Cromwell said.
“They suffer no less than human mothers would,” he added.
Image: Cromwell was joined by other activists at the Starbucks branch in New York City
Cromwell, who plays the anti-capitalist brother of a billionaire media mogul in Succession, later used a knife to scrape his glued hand off the counter.
Police said no arrests were made.
Starbucks branches in the United States charge 50 cents to a dollar more for drinks made with plant-based milk.
“Customers can customise any beverage on the menu with a non-dairy milk, including soymilk, coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk for an additional cost (similar to other beverage customizations such as an additional espresso shot or syrup),” a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement.
“Pricing varies market by market.”
The spokesperson added that the coffee chain respects customers’ right to voice their opinions “so long as it does not disrupt our store operations.”
Cromwell was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the farmer in 1995 film Babe and became a vegan after starring in the film.
He became a vegetarian in 1974.
In 2017, he was charged with trespassing for interrupting an orca show at SeaWorld in San Diego.
