Actor Forest Whitaker found himself at the center of a shoplifting situation at a New York City deli last week while grabbing lunch at the celeb hotstop. Only problem: the Academy Award-winning actor wasn’t snatching sausages.
According to the New York Daily News, Whitaker was reportedly stopped and frisked by an “overzealous” employee at Milano Market on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Friday (Feb. 15) while walking out of the deli. The unidentified worked claimed the actor stole something from the store’s shelves.
“It was around lunchtime and the store was packed,” said another employee who refused to give his name. “We were like 50 people deep. The person walked in and out really quickly so our person just made a mistake. The employee apologized immediately. It was an honest mistake. I’ve been here 14 years and nothing like this has ever happened.”
Whitaker’s publicist Jennifer Plante said the incident was “upsetting,” given the fact that all he did was walk into the deli.
“What is most unfortunate about this situation is the inappropriate way store employees are treating patrons of their establishment,” she continued.
Whitaker refused police involvement, partly because the employee was afraid of getting fired. The actor simply asked that in the future, the store treats the public in a “fair and just manner.”
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