Paul McCartney is stepping in to try and stop the surcharges on all your favorite dairy-alternative Starbucks beverages.
The music legend teamed up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to ask Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson to reconsider his current approach to plant-based milk. McCartney wrote an open letter to the coffee franchise ahead of his upcoming performance in Seattle, where the company’s headquarters are based. “My friends at PETA are campaigning for this,” he wrote, adding, “I sincerely hope that for the future of the planet and animal welfare you are able to implement this policy.” Given that Johnson is scheduled to step down as CEO on April 4, the musician hopes that he will consider making this change as one of his final actions in office.
McCartney began his note by explaining that, “It recently came to my attention that Starbucks in the USA has an extra charge for plant-based milks as opposed to cow’s milk.” He added, “I must say this surprised me,” as Starbucks stores in the UK do not have an additional charge on milk alternatives. The former Beatle concluded, “I would like to politely request that you consider this policy also in Starbucks USA.”
In an exclusive statement to the New York Post, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said, “Paul is in a bit of a COVID-19 bubble on the tour as any cancellation would be a huge problem, so instead of going out to a Starbucks with PETA to give away soy lattes, he decided to pitch in by personally writing to the company.” They added, “Even the name of the venue is a reminder that cow’s milk production contributes to global climate change, something Starbucks should get behind,” referring to Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.
McCartney has been an outspoken vegetarian since the ’70s along with his late first wife Linda McCartney. Following her death, he vowed to commit himself to furthering animal rights. His daughter Stella McCartney has also been an environmentalist advocate for decades, starring in anti-fur ads for PETA and advancing synthetic leather and fur technology through her eponymous fashion brand.
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