Vampire Diaries actor Michael Malarkey refuses Starbucks coffee calls for boycott

Vampire Diaries actor Michael Malarkey has called for a boycott of Starbucks after he refused to drink the company’s premium coffee at an event. The coffee chain has faced boycott calls from pro-Palestinian supporters, who accuse it of backing Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza, following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

The popular coffee chain became involved in the controversy after its workers’ union, Starbucks Workers United, voiced support for Palestinians in a post on X. The union’s statement, along with Starbucks’ legal response to the union, has sparked further calls for boycotts.

In the clip, the 41-year-old Malarkey declined to drink the coffee on stage during an event, despite the brand being a sponsor.

Watch the video here:

Malarkey explained that his decision was driven by his boycott of the coffee brand in protest of its support for Israel. At the event, he even encouraged attendees to join him in boycotting the brand and other companies associated with backing Israel.

The controversy started with a fake letter alleging that the coffee brand was funding the Israeli military, which sparked outrage, especially in regions sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. The boycott gained momentum, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok and X, where the hashtag #boycottstarbucks amassed millions of views.

However, the company has strongly refuted allegations of supporting Israel or any other government or military action in the Middle East.