William Shatner Weighs In on Aldi's Handling of Minor Employee Wage Dispute

William Shatner, the 95-year-old actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," has publicly criticized Aldi's accounting department. His comments followed a complaint by British radio host Chris Brooks, who shared a letter his son, Samuel, received from the supermarket. The letter alleged an overpayment of £97 and threatened further action if the sum was not repaid.

Brooks posted a copy of the letter on X, detailing that Samuel had been overpaid by 13 hours in August 2026, leading to a demand for repayment. The letter, dated September 30, 2026, stated that if payment was not received by September 14, 2026, or if no contact was made, Samuel's details would be sent to a debt recovery center. Brooks highlighted that the repayment deadline had already passed before the letter was even sent and that his son had not been previously informed of the error.

Shatner, who resides in Los Angeles, saw the post and commented on X, suggesting that Aldi's payroll department "does not know how to count or use a calendar." He also advised Aldi's CEO to calculate the cost of sending the letter, implying it likely exceeded the £97 in question.

Brooks expressed his surprise and gratitude for Shatner's involvement, calling the situation "slightly surreal" given the actor's engagement with a minor wage dispute. Social media users also noted the unusual nature of the "Star Trek" star intervening in such a matter.

Aldi's initial response to Brooks on X indicated they could not assist via customer services and directed him to the payroll department. Shatner later urged Aldi's CEO, Giles Hurley, to review the incident and how it occurred, rather than pursuing a small sum resulting from the company's own error. The issue has since been resolved, according to reports.