James Cromwell Protests at Manhattan Starbucks

Cromwell glued his hand to the counter to protest vegan milk upcharges.

Cromwell glued his hand to the counter to protest vegan milk upcharges.

This week, Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell, well-known for roles including his tenure on Succession, staged a protest at a Starbucks in Manhattan. Starbucks locations require an extra 50 cent surcharge for drinks that include vegan milk alternatives such as soymilk, almond milk, and oat milk. To protest these charges, which Cromwell decried as making money from environmentally unfriendly practices, he glued his hand to the store’s counter.

“When will you stop raking in huge profits while customers, animals and the environment suffer?” Cromwell demanded in front of onlookers, wearing a “Free the Animals” t-shirt. This protest was organized by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, of which Cromwell is a member.

Police were called to the protest, but Cromwell removed his hand from the counter using a pocket knife and left peacefully. No arrests were made.

“Customers can customize any beverage on the menu with a non-dairy milk, including soy milk, 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 customers may voice their opinions on Starbucks practices if they wish, “so long as it does not disrupt our store operations.”