Oscar Winning Forest Whitaker Frisked At Manhattan Deli Accused of Shoplifting


Lee Brown / Splash News
The Milano Market where Whitaker was allegedly frisked and accused of shoplifting
Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker was frisked in a Manhattan deli after an employee accused him of shoplifting, it was reported today.
The movie star, in town filming “Black Nativity” with Jennifer Hudson, was about to leave the Milano Market on Third Avenue when one of the workers there claimed to have seen him snag an item from a store shelf, according to TMZ.
The worker stopped Whitaker and allegedly gave him a humiliating pat down in full view of everyone in the Upper East Side store.

Lenny Abbot, PacificCoastNews.co
Forest Whitaker on the set of his upcoming movie "Black Nativity"
No stolen items were found, and Whitaker left, but his spokeswoman said the incident violated the actor’s rights.
“This was an upsetting incident given the fact that Forest did nothing more than walk into the deli,” Jennifer Plante said. “Forest did not call the authorities at the request of the worker who was in fear of losing his employment.”
Instead, Whitaker, who won the best actor Oscar for his role in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland,” asked the store to change the way it treats its customers.
Store employees have denied the incident took place.

Comments