Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker was reportedly patted down by a worker at a Morningside Heights deli after being accused of shoplifting.

According to published reports, Whitaker's publicist says the actor was leaving the Milano Market at 2892 Broadway on Friday when an employee stopped him, claiming he stole something.

Reports say the worker patted down the 51-year-old actor, found nothing and let him go.

Whitaker's publicist says the actor was upset by the incident but did not call police because the worker was afraid of losing his job.

Whitaker is in town shooting a movie.

He won a Best Actor Oscar for playing Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King Of Scotland" in 2006.