Celebrities - Plant Based News https://plantbasednews.org/category/news/celebrities/ Disrupting The Conventional Narrative Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:34:04 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://plantbasednews.org/app/uploads/2020/10/cropped-pbnlogo-150x150.png Celebrities - Plant Based News https://plantbasednews.org/category/news/celebrities/ 32 32 Nicki Minaj Launches Range Of Barbie Pink Vegan Sneakers https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/nicki-minaj-vegan-sneakers/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/nicki-minaj-vegan-sneakers/#respond Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:21:46 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=318546 Nicki Minaj has partnered with vegan sneaker brand Løci

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Rapper and singer Nicki Minaj has announced the release of a new line of vegan sneakers.

The collection is in collaboration with vegan sneaker brand Løci. It’s called “Nicki Minaj X Løci,” and consists of 11 styles of unisex shoes made from vegan leather. Many of the trainers are a shade of pink reminiscent of Barbie, a film that Minaj created music for.

Read more: ‘Sheer Nonsense’: Stella McCartney On Why Leather Is Not A Byproduct

According to Løci, the new line “blends street-cool aesthetics with high-fashion chic.” Writing on Instagram at the end of March, Minaj said the release was an “absolute dream come true.”

Vegan Nicki Minaj sneakers from Loci
Løci The new collection is available to shop now

“I can’t WAIT for you guys to see my 1st collection,” she wrote. “Thank you to my team for helping me make this dream come to fruition. This isn’t a sponsorship. I’m an owner & partner.”

The collection is available to shop online now. Prices range from $185 to $200.

The rise of Løci

Løci was founded in London on 2019, and has since become a hugely popular sneaker brand, with its designs being seen on celebrities including Mila Kunis, Jessica Alba, and Ben Affleck. 

Read more: Cillian Murphy Discusses His Decision To Go Plant-Based

The brand doesn’t use any animal leather, instead opting for materials like recycled bottles, recycled nylon and brass, as well as cork, bamboo, and a bio leather alternative. It’s thought that each pair of sneakers repurposes the equivalent of 20 plastic bottles. Løci’s shoes are made in Portugal, a country known for its craftsmanship and sustainability credentials. 

According to Løci, the brand has saved one million plastic bottles from being discarded. It also donates 10 percent of online profits to marine organizations like Sea Shepherd and SEE Turtles. 

Read more: Joaquin Phoenix Wore A Plant-Based Hat For ‘Napoleon’

In 2022, it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio had invested in the brand. The actor said at the time that he was “proud” to invest in a company “dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact, and centered around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear.”

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Cillian Murphy Discusses His Decision To Go Plant-Based https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/cillian-murphy-trying-vegan-thing/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/cillian-murphy-trying-vegan-thing/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:14:59 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=317455 Actor Cillian Murphy has discussed the benefits of a plant-based diet

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Irish actor Cillian Murphy, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 2024 Oscars for his starring role in the blockbuster Oppenheimer, has opened up about adopting a plant-based diet.

Appearing on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast last year, Murphy told the host: “I’ve been trying the vegan thing.” He cited the benefits to his health and the environment as his primary motivators for eating plant-based.

While Murphy admitted “I miss cheese terribly,” he went on to say “I don’t miss the meat. I’ve been off the meat for a long time. I did have a kind of a relapse and I didn’t feel any better, so I’m back off it again.”

When asked by Maron if his reasoning is ethical or health-conscious, Murphy said “Both, now. In the beginning, there was loads of Mad Cow Disease and all that stuff happening. But I just think it’s better for the planet.” Veganism is a lifestyle choice against animal exploitation, and it’s not known if Murphy has moved entirely towards being vegan.

Born in the city of Cork, Ireland, Murphy has established himself as one of the most sought-after actors working in the film and television industry. His recurring role as Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby in the series Peaky Blinders brought him international fame, almost a decade after his breakthrough role in the zombie horror 28 Days Later. His role as J. Robert Oppenheimer, which also garnered him BAFTA and Golden Globe awards, is his sixth collaboration with director Christopher Nolan, having also starred in Inception, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Dunkirk

Cillian Murphy ditches meat

Vegan celebrity Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer
FlixPix / Alamy Stock Photo Cillian Murphy recently won an Oscar for his role in Oppenheimer

Prior to his plant-based announcement, Murphy was a long-term vegetarian. He made the switch to vegetarianism approximately 15 years ago, with the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease at the time prompting him to remove meat from his diet due to fears of zoonotic diseases. (Zoonotic diseases are heavily linked to animal agriculture – the swine flu outbreak of 2009 spread in pig farms, and there is growing concern about avian flu outbreaks affecting animals in farms around the world.)

When commencing filming for Peaky Blinders, Murphy began incorporating meat back into his diet at the recommendation of his trainer at the time. “They were anxious that I shouldn’t look like a skinny Irish fella, and my trainer recommended meat,” he said in an interview with Mr Porter.

While the notion from his trainer that Murphy needed to eat meat to build his physique for the role of Tommy Shelby is still commonly held, this is a very common misunderstanding around the vegan diet and health. A well-planned plant-based diet provides all the protein requirements for a regular person or a bodybuilder’s needs. There are many professional bodybuilders and athletes who thrive on a plant-based diet.

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Is Travis Barker Vegan? What He’s Said About The Lifestyle https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/is-travis-barker-vegan-what-hes-said-about-the-lifestyle/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/is-travis-barker-vegan-what-hes-said-about-the-lifestyle/#respond Fri, 02 Feb 2024 12:27:22 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=310962 The Blink 182 drummer is proud of being vegan

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Travis Barker is best known as being the drummer of US rock band Blink 182. A new generation also know him for appearing on Disney+ show The Kardashians alongside his wife Kourtney Kardashian. He has a huge social media presence, with 9 million followers on Instagram, and has publicly spoken about a wide range of issues – including animal rights. So, is Travis Barker vegan? Here’s everything you need to know about his lifestyle, and what he’s said about veganism.

Is Travis Barker vegan?

Barker previously stated that he went vegetarian aged 15, but that he’s started to eat meat while in hospital after surviving a plane crash in in 2008.

“I had to have 6,000 calories a day. Obviously, they didn’t have a vegan chef for me, so I had to eat whatever,” he previously told the Guardian. “I ended up eating a lot of beef jerky, and extra-large peanut butter smoothies, which had like 3,000 calories each.”

After he left hospital, however, he decided to go completely vegan. Since then, he has promoted vegan products and businesses and launched a vegan wellness brand. He and daughter Alabama have also fronted a campaign for PETA.

“Honestly, ever since I found this way of eating I have endless amounts of energy,” Barker told Men’s Journal in 2017. “I can go all day, and after it all I never find myself getting tired.”

Vegan business interests

Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian
Alamy Stock Photo Barker and Kardashian have promoted vegan products together

Barker’s company Barker Wellness Co sells cannabinoid-infused products such as skincare and consumable “tinctures.” Launched in 2021, Barker Wellness Co markets itself as an “all-natural,” vegan, and cruelty-free wellness company.

Barker is an investor in Crossroads Kitchen, a vegan restaurant with locations in Las Vegas and two in California. Like Barker, head chef Tal Ronnen went vegetarian as a teenager. In a 2023 interview with Barker and Ronnen in Cultured Magazine, Barker said he “never liked the taste or texture of meat and used to put it in my pockets to hide it at the dinner table as a kid. I also love animals and don’t believe in killing them in order to eat.”

Barker designed a hoodie for Crossroads with tattoo artist Tim Hendricks. When asked in Cultured Magazine if veganism can be edgy, he said: “A vegan diet has always been rooted in punk rock/hard core music since I was a kid, and has always been cool.”

Barker collaborated with another vegan restaurant, Monty’s Good Burger, in 2022. He helped design merchandise including t-shirts, a hoodie, and a cap featuring a “Travis & the Barkers” graphic with dog characters Monty, Max, and Charlie. Proceeds of the collaboration go to animal charity Happy Paw, which is supporting animal shelters in Ukraine with urgent supplies and financial assistance.

Monty’s Good Burger also sells “Travis’s Oat Matcha Latte Shake,” a milkshake Barker “dedicated” to his wife, Kourtney Kardashian. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb1RSNsrRTr/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=81b2f5e2-4190-45a4-98e1-6791979434b1

Promoting vegan products

Barker has a partnership with vegan cheese company Violife. He promotes its cheeses on his Instagram, making food like quesadillas using Violife’s Mexican Style Shreds and Sour Cream.

In 2022, vegan chicken brand Daring Company enlisted Barker and Kardashian to advertise its products. They did a photoshoot of them eating the plant-based chicken and drinking champagne. 

“Daring is awesome because it’s super clean and has all-natural ingredients,” Barker said. “When I went fully vegan 15 years ago, the options were basically straight vegetables, so I’m excited to see more plant-based choices on menus. That’s why I invested in Crossroads Kitchen and Monty’s and why this partnership with Daring felt so right for Kourt and Me.”

Does Travis Barker wear leather?

Veganism is a lifestyle, not a diet, and followers abstain from all animal products in every aspect of their lives. Barker is known for his leather outfits, including jackets and Doc Marten boots, but he has stated that these are animal-free.

“I’m always on the hunt for vegan leather, I love vegan leather,” he previously told People. “I don’t ever want to confuse anyone—when you see me wearing leather, I promise you, it’s vegan every time. I’m very, very adamant about it—like actually strict about it.”

Plant-based family

Barker’s daughter Alabama is a vegetarian, and his wife is mostly plant-based. In 2023, Kardashian organized a vegan Thanksgiving dinner for Barker’s 48th birthday.

She shared photos of the extensive spread to her 224 million Instagram followers. The menu included vegan mac and cheese and seitan turkey.

Barker often discusses veganism when he appears on The Kardashians.

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‘An Obnoxious Luxury’: Mark Zuckerberg Criticized For New ‘Beef’ Farm https://plantbasednews.org/news/environment/mark-zuckerberg-cows-beef/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/environment/mark-zuckerberg-cows-beef/#respond Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:03:04 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=303391 Raising cows on his 1,500-acre estate will massively increase Mark Zuckerberg's carbon footprint

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Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg is raising cows for “beef” at his 1,500-acre estate in Kauai, Hawaii.

Writing on Instagram, Zuckerberg said that the cows will eat macadamia meal and drink beer. “We want the whole process to be local,” he wrote.

He went on to say that “each cow eats 5,000-10,000 pounds of food each year, so that’s a lot of acres of macadamia trees.” Zuckerberg added that his daughters are helping to plant trees and “take care” of the animals. The photo alongside the caption showed him sitting at a table with a steak.

The post has attracted huge criticism, with many commenters pointing out the ethical problems of cow farming. Animal rights organization PETA commented: “Every animal is someone. This “project” is killing animals and the planet and is traumatizing for your kids. There are so many other productive things to do, like creating innovative vegan foods that save animals, help the planet, and improve human health.”

Zuckerberg has previously caused a stir around meat eating. In 2011, he said he had “basically become a vegetarian” after claiming to only eat animals he has killed himself.

Zuckerberg criticized

Many commenters also took issue with the enormous climate costs of Zuckerberg’s decision to raise cows. Switching to a plant-based food system is a key solution to fight world hunger and the climate crisis. Speaking about the environmental impact of the farm, Nicholas Carter, ecologist and data scientist, told Plant Based News: “Zuckerberg could ship a kilo of macadamia nuts about 200 times around the world before its greenhouse gasses matched those of a kilo of his local beef.”

Carter added: “Only one percent of beef’s footprint comes from transportation. This is an obnoxious luxury where for every 100 calories of meal fed to these cattle, he’d only get about 3 calories back in beef.”

Immense land and resource use from beef

A beef herd, which Mark Zuckerberg has announced he is raising on his ranch
Adobe Stock Switching from beef to beans would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Grass-fed beef is regarded by some as among the most environmentally damaging foods.

Data from a 2018 study show the astronomical impact of beef herds. Every kilogram of food emits almost 100 kg of greenhouse emissions, compared to 0.43 kg for nuts.

By choosing to raise his own cows for beef on huge swathes of land, Zuckerberg is increasing his carbon footprint.

Beef is by far the most emissions-heavy food, as measured by Poore and Nemecek in 2018
Our World In Data Beef is by far the most emissions-heavy food on the planet

Even the pro-livestock UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has urged actions to improve the “efficiency of [meat] production” by using less land for animal agriculture.

“The inefficiencies, methane, and land displacement are largely inescapable impacts of producing beef for food,” said Carter. “The volume of feed would also likely result in the displacement of Indigenous communities and further the pressure on extensive areas of endangered rainforest and wild animals.”

Plant-based food system could end world hunger

Wide shot image of people planting trees on land that used to be used for animal farming
Adobe Stock Shifting to a plant-based food system could free up an area the size of the United States, China, the European Union, and Australia combined

In a speech last month, World Health Organization Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called for a shift towards a plant-based food system.

“Transforming food systems is essential,” he said, “by shifting towards healthier, diversified, and more plant-based diets.”

The inefficiencies of meat production make swapping beef for beans one of the key solutions to world hunger.

Indeed, switching just 30 percent of meat for plant-based alternatives would save enough water to fill 7.5 million swimming pools per year. It could also free up a carbon sink the size of India by 2030.

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‘Sheer Nonsense’: Stella McCartney On Why Leather Is Not A Byproduct https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/stella-mccartney-sustainable-fashion-cop28/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/stella-mccartney-sustainable-fashion-cop28/#respond Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:12:18 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=302359 Stella McCartney urged other designers to stop using animal materials

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Fashion designer Stella McCartney discussed the ethical and environmental costs of the fashion industry while at COP28 earlier this month.

McCartney, who has long been vocal in her disdain for leather and fur, urged other designers to ditch animal materials and move to more sustainable plant-based alternatives

“There is a better way for the future of fashion,” she told Plant Based News founder Klaus Mitchell in an interview at the climate conference in Dubai.

Reflecting on the environmental and ethical impacts of fashion, McCartney explained how her brand is trying to find better solutions for the planet.

“There are so many bad things in my industry,” she said. “I’m trying to gently nudge people and open their minds.”

McCartney was at COP28 to showcase Stella’s Sustainable Solutions, a series of plant-based alternatives to harmful fashion products.

Environmental impacts of fashion

The fashion industry – and its use of animal products – is having a major environmental impact.

McCartney is a key voice in the industry calling out the harms of animal fashion. While she mostly avoids animal products, she does use some wool and silk in her collection. “We don’t use leather, feathers, fur,” she said. “And that has the biggest effect on our environmental impact in a positive way.”

“I don’t know if I would still be doing fashion at this stage in my career if it were not for the really truly meaningful important role I now play here in trying to bring awareness and information to the consumer,” she added.

Leather is not a byproduct

McCartney, who has been heavily investing in leather alternatives over the last few years, also slammed the commonly held belief that animal leather is an innocent byproduct of the meat industry. “It’s just sheer nonsense,” she said. “I’m here to let people know that’s a lie that’s been created by the meat industry and leather boards.”

Leather is responsible for the deaths of more than one billion animals each year, many of whom are factory farmed. It’s a hugely lucrative industry in its own right, meaning many people consider it a “coproduct” rather than “byproduct” of beef and other meat.

McCartney – and many others championing plant-based alternatives – have received some pushback about the sustainability of some vegan leather alternatives. Yet, leather is disastrous for the environment. Livestock farming uses vast amounts of land and farming cows is responsible for around a third of human-caused methane emissions.

McCartney spoke about a new plastic-free leather alternative being shown off at her COP28 display. Made from rubber, MIRUM is said to be a scalable vegan leather.

Pushing for policy change

Plant-based fashion designer Stella McCartney
London Entertainment / Alamy Stock Photo Stella McCartney has invested heavily in vegan leather over the years

At COP28, McCartney was showcasing “the future of fashion.”

She also spoke about her optimism that the fashion world is changing, saying: “There’s a lot of greenwashing, unfortunately. But I think there is change happening slowly and I think that something’s better than nothing.”

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Poet And Vegan Advocate Benjamin Zephaniah Dies Aged 65 https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/benjamin-zephaniah-dies-aged-65/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/benjamin-zephaniah-dies-aged-65/#respond Thu, 07 Dec 2023 11:38:51 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=301067 Benjamin Zephaniah's family confirmed that he was diagnosed with a brain tumor eight weeks ago

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Beloved poet and animal advocate Benjamin Zephaniah died early Thursday morning (December 7) at the age of 65.

A post on Zephaniah’s official Instagram account said he was diagnosed with a brain tumor eight weeks ago. His wife was with him throughout his short illness and by his side when he passed, according to the post.

A vegan since he was a teenager, Zephaniah was a vocal advocate for animal rights. Recently, he condemned the UK’s badger cull and made a music video encouraging people to go vegan.

In December 2022, he wrote in The Guardian: “I am vegan because I love animals.” In the same article he said his New Year’s Resolution was to stop saying he didn’t eat meat and tell people he didn’t eat animals.

He was an honorary patron of The Vegan Society, Viva!, and EVOLVE! Campaigns. In 2007, he launched the Animal Liberation Project with PETA. Zephaniah published The Little Book of Vegan Poems in 2001.

Zephaniah wrote more than a dozen books of poetry as well as several novels, children’s books, and plays. 

Benjamin Zephaniah, the late vegan advocate and poet
MusicLive / Alamy Stock Photo Benjamin Zephaniah was a hugely successful writer and dub poet

But his creative talents didn’t stop with the written word. He acted in a number of film and television productions and released several albums. He also collaborated musically with artists including Sinead O’Connor and British house duo Swayzak. 

As well as his animal rights advocacy, Zephaniah was known for a great deal of other activism. He spoke out against homophobia in Jamaica, where his mother was from. His experiences of racism featured in his writing and he collaborated with anti-racist group Newham Monitoring Project. 

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Is David Attenborough Vegan? Here’s What We Know https://plantbasednews.org/news/environment/is-david-attenborough-vegan/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:44:10 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=234120 Sir David Attenborough says the planet cannot support billions of meat-eaters - so is he vegan or vegetarian?

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Sir David Attenborough is revered for his work in educating people about the crisis facing the planet. Much of his work focuses on animals and environmental issues, leading some people to question whether is he is vegan, plant-based, or vegetarian. So, is David Attenborough vegan? Or Does he eat meat?

Animal farming is an environmental catastrophe. It creates harmful emissions, drives deforestation, and it’s also been identified as a “primary driver” of biodiversity loss. The UN has previously stated that the world must move toward “plant-heavy” dietary patterns to combat this issue. With many of Sir David’s shows focusing on animal extinction, many have wondered if he himself follows a meat-free diet.

Going vegan has been cited as the “single biggest way” to reduce our personal climate footprints. A report published in July 2023 found that vegan diets led to 75 percent less climate-heating emissions, land use, and water pollution than meat-heavy diets. They also cut the destruction of wildlife by 66 percent.

What has David Attenborough said about meat?

The impact animal farming has on our planet is something Sir David has recognized himself. In December 2023, David Attenborough slammed animal agriculture on his hugely popular BBC One show, Planet Earth III. In the episode – which was named “Human” – he said: “Currently the vast majority of agricultural land – more than 75 percent – is used to raise livestock and this is very inefficient.” He added that we “rear 70 billion farm animals each year and every one of them needs feeding.”

He went on to say that producing food for these animals is having a “profound impact on the natural world.”

“Year after year, we clear over two million hectares of the Amazon forest – an area the size of Wales. And we use nearly all of it to make more space for cattle and to grow soya to feed our livestock,” Sir David said. “If we shift away from eating meat and dairy and move towards a plant-based diet then the sun’s energy goes directly into growing our food. And because that’s so much more efficient, we could still produce enough to feed us but do so using a quarter of the land.”

This wasn’t the first time he’d been critical of animal farming. In 2020, the veteran broadcaster released a film titled A Life On Our Planet, which called upon the public to move away from meat.

The documentary covered the period of Sir David’s life up until that point, outlining the defining moments, and highlighting how the environment has been damaged during that time.

We must change our diet. The true tragedy of our time is still unfolding – the loss of biodiversity,” Sir David says in the film. “Half of fertile land on Earth is now farmland, 70 percent of birds are domestic, majority chickens. There’s little left for the world. We have completely destroyed it.”

He continued: “By 2080 global food production enters crisis, soils overused, weather more unpredictable… a sixth mass extinction is well under way. Our garden of Eden will be lost. I wish I wasn’t involved in this struggle. I wish I wasn’t there.”

In an interview with Radio Times magazine, he expanded on this point: “Human beings have overrun the Earth. We have completely destroyed that world.

“The planet can’t support billions of meat-eaters. If we all ate only plants, we’d need only half the land we use at the moment.”

Is David Attenborough vegan? Does he eat meat?

In short, as of December 2023, it is not known whether Sir David follows a vegan lifestyle or plant-based diet. Due to his words on Planet Earth III, it may be that he has recently ditched animal products – but he has previously stated that he does eat some meat and dairy.

David Attenborough, who includes some meat in his diet, on the set of one of his wildlife documentaries
imageBROKER / Alamy Stock Photo David Attenborough has been making wildlife documentaries for a number of years

In a past interview with the BBC in 2017, he is reported to have discussed reducing his meat intake. “I no longer have the same appetite for meat. Why? I’m not sure,” he said

“I think subconsciously maybe it’s because of the state of the planet. Although, I’ve never really been one for eating enormous meals and I’m not particularly a gourmet either, so I can’t pretend that I’m feeling deprived in any way or that it’s cost me all that much.”

He added: “I’m not claiming any moral virtue at this point — I’m just saying I don’t want to eat any red meat anymore.”

Later, in a 2020 interview with Good Housekeeping, Sir David said he was moving closer to vegetarianism.

“Well, I have certainly changed my diet. Not in a great sort of dramatic way. But I don’t think I’ve eaten red meat for months,” he explained. “I do eat cheese, I have to say, and I eat fish. But by and large I’ve become much more vegetarian over the past few years than I thought I would ever be.”

David Attenborough diet and ‘middle-class hypocrisy’

The broadcaster has previously stated that, while he recommends people stop eating meat, he is a hypocrite for not doing so himself.

In the Radio Times interview, he explained: “I eat fish, and chicken, and my conscience does trouble me. I’m affluent enough to afford free range, but it’s a middle-class hypocrisy.”

In 2020, writing about Sir David’s meat-eating, The Times said: “Even national treasures sometimes struggle to practice what they preach.”

His unwillingness to lead by example when it comes to his diet hit headlines again in 2022 after a marine biologist attempted to confront him while he dined at a luxury seafood restaurant.

David Attenborough who does not eat a vegan diet speaking to camera on a documentary
Tony Watson / Alamy Stock Photo David Attenborough is regarded by many as a national treasure

Emma Smart, a supporter of Animal Rebellion, was reportedly “dragged” out of Catch at the Old Fish Market in Weymouth on November 17 of that year. She was urging Sir David to use his platform to call for food system change.

“We don’t need another documentary series showing us that we are losing, some 150 species going extinct globally every single day. What we need is action,” Smart, who is vegan, said in a statement. “Sir David is in a unique position to tell the truth about the biodiversity crisis. He has the chance to leave a legacy of love, care, and of being the forerunner of a better world.”

This article was updated on December 5, 2023, to include information about what Sir David Attenborough said about veganism on Planet Earth III

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Joaquin Phoenix Wore A Plant-Based Hat For ‘Napoleon’ https://plantbasednews.org/culture/film/joaquin-phoenix-plant-based-hat-napoleon/ https://plantbasednews.org/culture/film/joaquin-phoenix-plant-based-hat-napoleon/#respond Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:51:51 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=300498 Joaquin Phoenix has been vegan since the age of three

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Oscar-winning actor and vegan activist Joaquin Phoenix requested to have a vegan hat made for the filming of Napoleon, as he wasn’t willing to wear a hat made from sheep’s wool created especially for the film. 

The historical epic movie, based on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, has grossed USD $36.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $47.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $83.7 million. 

Phoenix stars as the titular Napoleon Bonaparte, and the biopic charts his rise to power as French emperor and military commander, as well as his tempestuous relationship with Empress Joséphine, portrayed by Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, Mission: Impossible — Fallout). Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is currently in cinemas before it moves to Apple TV+. 

Phoenix consulted with costume designer David Crossman on the issue of the bicorn hat, one of the most iconic parts of Napoleon’s famed regal dress. A specialist in military clothing, Crossman said he had a “mini panic” about the hats in an interview with the New York Times, which were made from wool. One of Napoleon Bonaparte’s original felt wool recently sold in a French auction for $2.1 million. “I just felt it’s going to be a problem of what to make the iconic hat out of because it’s going to be all about the hat,” Crossman said, knowing Phoenix doesn’t wear any animal products as part of his vegan lifestyle

Finding a vegan solution

Vegan celebrity Joaquin Phoenix in a plant-based hat on the set of Napoleon
FlixPix / Alamy Stock Photo Napoleon was released earlier this year

He managed to source a solution, however: they constructed the large and opulent hats from a fabric that uses tree bark originating in Uganda, meaning the hats were completely animal and cruelty-free.

“I thought, ‘oh good, we’re out of trouble,’” Crossman said. “I was just so worried it was going to be some polyester synthetic thing. But it gave us a lot of lovely surface texture on the hat.”

Click here to read why vegan’s don’t wear wool and the cruelty involved in the industry.

Joaquin Phoenix’s vegan advocacy

Phoenix went vegan at the age of three — he and his family witnessed fish being thrown against the side of a boat and stunned, which prompted the entire Phoenix family to become vegan. As his fame and acting career has grown following performances in Gladiator and Walk The Line, he has increasingly used his platform for animal rights activism

He is the narrator in the animal rights documentaries Earthlings and Dominion and he used his Best Actor speech at the Oscars (for his lead performance in Joker) to speak about the abuse of cows in the dairy industry, and its impact on the environment. The day after his Oscar win, he rescued a cow and her calf from a farm in California in partnership with Farm Sanctuary. His partner, actor Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Carol) is also vegan, and the pair have been spotted at protests outside slaughterhouses in the US as animals arrive in trucks, among other animal rights activism around the country. 

Horse riding controversy

Despite Phoenix’s work with the filmmakers to ensure he would not wear any wool, leather, or other animal products in Napoleon, his role in the film still caused some controversy and backlash among the animal rights community, as he was required to ride horses during filming.

Besides the fact vegans avoid horse riding for ethical reasons, this has caused further surprise as Phoenix spoke of his regret about riding horses for the 2018 film The Sister Brothers. He said at the time: 

“I didn’t like riding horses. I regretted having to ride. I’m a little clueless because I don’t think that I thought about it that much until I was there and realized, ‘Oh, it’s a Western, and we’re on horses a lot.’ I hadn’t considered that. I felt bad about riding them. I had the feeling that they were like, ‘I don’t really want you on my back.’”

Animal rights group PETA holds the position that horses are “historically among the animals most commonly injured and killed when exploited for entertainment.” A recent high-profile case saw a horse die from cardiac arrest while pulling a carriage for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. 

Phoenix has not publicly commented on the horse riding in Napoleon.

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Jodie Marsh Sparks Controversy With Meat-Eater ‘Serial Killer’ Comment https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/jodie-marsh-serial-killers-meat-eaters/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/jodie-marsh-serial-killers-meat-eaters/#respond Wed, 29 Nov 2023 13:59:41 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=300172 The vegan personality has spoken out repeatedly against animal abuse

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Jodie Marsh has caused a stir online after labeling meat-eaters as “serial killers”.

In a picture posted on Instagram, Marsh wore a jumper that appeared to compare people who consume meat to Jeffrey Dahmer, a notorious serial killer.

The jumper had the slogan: “I don’t eat dead bodies, but you crack on Jeffrey Dahmer.”

Jeffrey Dahmer was a notorious American serial killer, known as the Milwaukee Cannibal. Between 1978 and 1991, he murdered 17 men.

As reported by The Sun, Marsh replied to social media comments criticizing her choice of jumper. She wrote: “All meat eaters are paying someone else to repeatedly murder for them. So indirectly yes I guess they are all serial killers.”

Vegan Jodie Marsh poses in a jumper that seems to compare meat eaters to serial killers
Jodie Marsh Some meat eaters were offended by Jodie Marsh’s choice of jumper

She went on to state that the jumper is “not meant to offend anyone,” adding: “If it does offend though then that’s good as maybe it makes people think about what they’re putting in their mouths.”

Animal agriculture involves forcibly impregnating, raising, and slaughtering billions of sentient beings each year.

Jodie Marsh’s vegan activism

Jodie Marsh is a vocal critic of animal agriculture. She regularly posts pro-vegan messages to her 453,000 followers.

She has also previously joined with animal organizations to promote anti-animal cruelty campaigns, including posing naked for PETA.

Marsh opened an animal sanctuary named Fripps Farm in 2020. It is currently home to over 250 animals, many of whom have been saved from slaughter.

The aim of Fripps Farm is to “give animals the best possible life, catering for all their needs and also to give them the love that they need.”

Shining a light on unseen suffering

Commenting on the post, some meat-eaters voiced their anger at Marsh for her choice of jumper.

“I couldn’t care less what people choose to eat or not eat! What grinds my gears is vegans constantly shoving their beliefs down people’s throats,” wrote one.

For the animals that are victims of farming, however, there is no choice. Animal suffering on farms and in slaughterhouses mostly happens behind closed doors well out of sight of consumers.

Marsh’s provocative jumper is an example of fashion activism. As a model and influencer, she uses her fashion choices to bring awareness to unseen suffering of animals.

Effective communication

Marsh’s post has been divisive. Many vegans would point out that she is technically correct. By consuming meat, you are indirectly funding the slaughter of multiple animals. Some may argue, however, that labelling meat-eaters in this way is not “effective communication” when discussing the issue.

Dr Melanie Joy is one expert who has discussed the importance of effective communication in veganism. It refers to the idea that discussions around eating meat should revolve around empathy and respect, and language should be clear, non-violent, and non-judgmental. “Whether we believe in something or not, is not the issue,” Dr Joy previously said. “The issue is what works. You can be right in a sense morally, but you may not be right strategically. The animals don’t need us to be morally perfectionistic; they need us to be effective”​​.

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Billie Eilish And Finneas Are Opening A Vegan Restaurant https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/billie-eilish-vegan-restaurant/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/billie-eilish-vegan-restaurant/#respond Fri, 24 Nov 2023 13:58:30 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=299994 Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell are entering the restaurant business

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Musicians Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell are opening an Italian-style vegan restaurant in Los Angeles.

The new restaurant will be located in the Silver Lake neighborhood of LA. It will take the space of Little Pine, a vegan restaurant founded by Moby in 2015, which closed last year.

The sibling pair already collaborate to produce and write most of Eilish’s songs. Now, they have teamed up with vegan restaurateur Nic Adler to move into the restaurant business.

“Vegan is for everyone,” Eilish said. “You don’t have to be vegan to eat vegan. The world is so much better than it was.”

An A-List collaboration

A selfie of vegan musician and animal rights advocate Billie Eilish
Instagram/Billie Eilish Billie Eilish is passionate about animal rights and environmental issues

Adler is the co-founder of Monty’s Good Burger, a vegan fast-food chain with four California locations. He is also behind popular plant-based restaurant Nic’s On Beverley on LA’s Beverly Boulevard.

His latest project, Argento, is due to open in summer 2024.

What food will Argento serve?

The new Los Angeles restaurant will have an Italian-style.

The Mediterranean-inspired menu will be “vegetable-forward,” focussing on fresh, plant-based flavors. Stepping away from the fast-food theme, Argento will put vegetables ahead of processed plant-based meat alternatives.

Billie Eilish promotes veganism

Moving into the restaurant business is the latest example of Billie Eilish’s vegan advocacy. Vegan since the age of 12, Eilish regularly posts about plant-based living. 

She has paired with a number of brands to promote cruelty-free products, including a vegan leather bag from Gucci.
She has also been outspoken about the climate crisis. Last year, she joined a climate campaign to urge people to go vegan.

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Kourtney Kardashian Threw A Vegan Thanksgiving For Travis Barker – Here’s What They Ate https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/kourtney-kardashian-vegan-thanksgiving-travis-barker/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/kourtney-kardashian-vegan-thanksgiving-travis-barker/#respond Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:41:11 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=299755 Kourtney Kardashian made Travis Barker a plant-based Thanksgiving meal for his birthday last week

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Kourtney Kardashian and her husband Travis Barker have joined the growing list of celebrities showing off their vegan creations this holiday season

The reality star organized an entirely plant-based Thanksgiving meal for her Blink 182 drummer husband’s 48th birthday last week, with 14 items on the menu. 

The spread featured plant-based versions of a number of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, including setian “turkey,” mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. 

Kardashian shared a number of photos of the table and menu to her 224 million Instagram followers, writing: “vegan thanksgiving for my baby’s birthday @travisbarker.”

Kourtney Kardashian’s vegan Thanksgiving 

A vegan Thanksgiving menu from Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker
Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian The menu featured 14 vegan Thanksgiving items

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 23, this year – and if you’re looking for some inspiration for your own vegan meal, here’s everything Kardashian and Barker ate:

  • Pumpkin bread
  • Turkey “seitan” Thanksgiving roast
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts
  • Sweet potato casserole
  • Corn ribs
  • Roasted purple sweet potato
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Roasted acorn squash
  • Green bean casserole
  • Sweet corn casserole
  • Gluten-free stuffing
  • Cornbread stuffing
  • Vegan mac & cheese
  • Vegan pumpkin pie
A vegan Thanksgiving dinner that Kourtney Kardashian threw for Travis Barker
Instagram/Kourtney Kardashian Travis Barker has been vegan for a number of years

Travis Barker and veganism

Barker has been vegan for a number of years, and he has regularly been vocal about animal advocacy. 

It’s thought that he adopted a vegetarian diet at the age of 13, but he started to eat meat again after surviving a plane crash in 2008. Speaking to the Guardian in 2015, he explained that he had to eat a huge amount of food to recover, and that there wasn’t vegan food available in the hospital. 

“I had to have 6,000 calories a day. Obviously, they didn’t have a vegan chef for me, so I had to eat whatever,” he told the publication. “I ended up eating a lot of beef jerky, and extra-large peanut butter smoothies, which had like 3,000 calories each.”

Travis subsequently dropped all animal products from his life and went vegan. He has since starred in campaigns for animal organizations, and discussed the health benefits of a plant-based diet. 

“I’ve been vegan for many years and vegetarian for even longer—Alabama [his daughter] is vegetarian,” he told PETA in 2017. “We’ve always loved animals, and we choose not to eat animals. We choose a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle … we have a pig that’s so smart, and to think that people still eat them is insane.”

Barker has stated that he has “endless amounts of energy” due to his diet, and that he often snacks on vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. 

Kourtney and Travis promote vegan brands

Kardashian has previously stated that she eats mostly plant-based diet, but that she isn’t fully vegan. The two have starred together in advertisements for vegan brands, including for Daring Chicken in 2022. 

“I’ve been on a health and wellness journey for the past 13 years, which has made me super conscious of what I put into my body and my kids’ bodies,” she said at the time.

“I’m not fully vegan, but Travis has helped me keep to a mostly plant-based diet, which is so much easier with Daring… I honestly cannot believe how much it tastes like chicken. There are a lot of plant proteins out there, but we’re always looking for options that are super clean with all-natural ingredients.”

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Queen Latifah Takes Aim At ‘Milk Shaming’ In Dairy-Funded Advert https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/queen-latifah-milk-shaming-advert/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/queen-latifah-milk-shaming-advert/#respond Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:40:19 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=299165 A number of celebrities have starred in pro-dairy campaigns over the last year

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A dairy-funded advert starring Queen Latifah has caused a stir after claiming that people are being “shamed” for drinking milk. 

Paid for by the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), the satirical ad claims that “dairy deniers all over America are subjecting them to milk shaming.”

The marketing campaign comes with the slogan “Ok2Milk.” In the advert, Queen Latifah narrates a series of scenarios where people have supposedly been shamed for their decision to drink milk.

The ad follows the pattern of similar celebrity endorsements for dairy. Earlier this year, Aubrey Plaza’s Wood Milk advert – which made fun of plant-based milks – was widely criticized.

Queen Latifah promotes milk

In Queen Latifah’s advert, we hear the story of a man whose date apparently left a restaurant when he ordered milk.

This is followed by a baseball mom upset to be judged by the other moms for handing out choco milk. Finally, a man running for city council describes how he was smeared in the press for chugging milk at a frat party in his college days.

“So next time you’re about to shame someone for drinking milk, think about them,” Queen Latifah advises.

Big Dairy trying to remain relevant

Milk being poured into a glass
Adobe Stock The dairy industry has spent big to promote milk

The campaign to paint dairy drinkers as victims comes amid a turning tide in consumer beliefs. Surveys have shown that more and more US consumers are choosing plant-based milks. Younger consumers are more likely to avoid dairy milk due to ethical and environmental concerns. Dairy milk consumption is down 20 percent among Gen Z compared to the national average.

Faced with the falling popularity of dairy and rise of plant-based milks, MilkPEP seems to be trying to reach a younger consumer base through celebrity endorsements.

Queen Latifah – whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens – is a Grammy and Emmy award-winning musician and actress. She has a large social media following, with more than 7.5 million Instagram followers.

Winston Binch, chief brand and experience officer for GALE, the creative agency commissioned by MilkPEP to create the advert, explained that Queen Latifah was the “perfect fit,” according to online publication Muse by Clio. He added that MilkPEP was committed to featuring only women in their marketing. 

Dairy dollars keep coming

The dairy lobby has long been prepared to spend big to ensure continued sales. Collectively, the dairy industry donated a reported $5.1 million to members of congress during the 2020 election cycle.

Federal subsidies and advertising have long promoted dairy as a necessary part of Americans’ diet for decades. This is despite research showing the negative health risks related to dairy, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The latest series of high-profile celebrity adverts appears to be the newest way the dairy lobby is trying to retain its influence. As with the Wood Milk advert, the Milk Shaming campaign comes with a website and hotline. “If you’ve been a victim of milk shaming, call the number on your screen,” Queen Latifah says.

Is milk shaming real?

In the FAQs section of the website, MilkPep defines “milk shaming” as a “ridiculous reaction to someone enjoying a beloved drink.”

It adds: “92% of American households consume dairy milk, yet milk drinkers are being made to feel embarrassed, shamed and disgraced simply for their loving some dairy milk! That may seem weird or silly, but sadly it’s actually true.”

The true victims of dairy farming

Behind the glitzy front of celebrity sponsorships, the production of milk has long been criticized for its cruelty. 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2118842581705969
Joey Carbstrong’s famous rebuttal to Piers Morgan: “You’re not a baby cow, bro”

In order to produce milk, each cow must first give birth. Their calf will be taken from them within just a few hours, and cows will often bellow and cry out for their young for days afterwards. If the calf is female, they will likely be raised for dairy. If they are male, they may be killed or sold to the veal industry.

Cows have been selectively bred to produce far more milk than they naturally would, which takes a huge toll on their bodies. Conditions like lameness and mastitis are common on dairy farms. When they stop producing enough milk, cows will be sent to the slaughterhouse.

Plant-based milk alternatives skip the suffering

For consumers looking to avoid the harmful impacts of dairy milk, a wide range of plant-based alternatives exist. From oat and pea, to soy and potato, there are dozens of vegan milk varieties.

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Prince William Urged To Launch Plant-Based Earthshot Prize With £1M Donation https://plantbasednews.org/news/environment/prince-william-plant-based-category-earthshot-prize/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/environment/prince-william-plant-based-category-earthshot-prize/#respond Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:11:20 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=294516 Animal agriculture is one of the most environmentally destructive industries there is

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Prince William is being urged to include a plant-based category in the annual Earthshot Prize. 

Launched in 2020 by the Duke of Cambridge and David Attenborough, the prize is handed to five people each year in recognition of their contributions to the environmental movement. Despite the huge impact that livestock farming has on the planet, the award has yet to introduce a vegan category. 

Dame Emma Thompson, Olivia Colman, Mark Rylance, Benjamin Zephaniah, and Chris Packham are among the celebrities to have signed an open letter urging the future King of England to reconsider. They, along with vegan organization GenV, are suggesting the name “Advance a Plant-Based Food System” for the new category. GenV will also donate £1m to be used as a prize fund. 

“Meat and dairy are having a huge and detrimental impact on our planet in terms of pollution, climate change, deforestation, and loss of wildlife,” Packham said in a statement. “But when we eat plants, we reduce these impacts significantly. We need Earthshot to incentivise a plant-powered revolution!”

Is the Earthshot Prize missing something?

Prince William on stage at the Earthshot Prize
PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo The Earthshot Prize recognizes those who have made strides in the environmental movement

Prince William previously said that the Earthshot Prize is about “harnessing that optimism and that urgency to find solutions to some of the world’s greatest environmental problems.” Despite this, it has so far failed to provide a category for arguably the biggest environmental problems the planet faces – animal agriculture. 

Livestock is responsible for at least 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (though some estimates have stated that that figure is significantly higher). A significant problem is methane, a powerful gas that’s 80 times more warming than carbon dioxide (CO2) in its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Farmed cows are responsible for around a third of human-caused methane. 

But emissions themselves aren’t the only problem. Arguably a more pressing issue is the vast amounts of land that animal agriculture takes up. Around 26 percent of the planet’s ice-free land is used for grazing cattle, while 33 percent of croplands are used to feed farmed animals. This has been identified as a hugely unsustainable use of land, and deforestation is destroying vital ecosystems and carbon sinks. 

We are big supporters of the Earthshot Prize, and at GenV we are working towards the exact same aims,” GenV’s CEO Naomi Hallum said in a statement. “However, there seems to be a blind spot when it comes to animal agriculture and its devastating impact on the earth, air, waters, and climate.”

Who has signed the Earthshot Prize plant-based letter?

The full list of signatories to GenV’s letter are as follows: 

  • Emma Thompson (actor)
  • Olivia Colmon (actor)
  • Alicia Silverstone (actor)
  • Mark Rylance (actor)
  • Edie Falco (actor)
  • Gemma Whelan (actor)
  • James Moore (actor)
  • Justina Adorno (actor)
  • Benjamin Zephaniah (poet and broadcaster)
  • Sharon Osbourne (TV personality)
  • Annie Lennox (singer)
  • Deborah Meaden (entrepreneur and TV personality)
  • George Monbiot (author and environmentalist)
  • Chris Packham (naturalist and TV presenter)
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Is Lewis Hamilton Vegan? A History Of His Animal Advocacy https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/lewis-hamilton-vegan/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/lewis-hamilton-vegan/#respond Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:17:15 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=294266 Lewis Hamilton has regularly spoken about about veganism and animal issues

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Lewis Hamilton is a British race car driver known for winning seven Formula One World Championships. Many people may be unaware, however, that he’s fast becoming known for his animal advocacy as well as his athletic and sports career. But is he vegan?

Hamilton was born in January 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in the UK. His interest in cars stems back to childhood, when his father bought him a radio-controlled car when he was five years old. He was given a go-kart the following year, and very quickly began winning races and cadet class championships. 

The star has spoken regularly about the importance of diet and lifestyle in regards to animal welfare and the environment. Here’s everything you need to know about his vegan journey. 

Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?

Vegan celebrity and athlete Lewis Hamilton
Instagram/Lewis Hamilton The athlete has a vegan dog called Roscoe

Hamilton is indeed vegan, and it’s thought that he adopted the lifestyle back in 2017 after learning about the reality of animal agriculture from a vegan friend he met in New York. Later that year, he opened up about his reasoning to the BBC

“The human race, what we are doing to the world … the pollution coming from the amount of cows that are being produced is incredible. The cruelty is horrible and I don’t necessarily want to support that and I want to live a healthier life.”

According to Vanity Fair, doctors told Hamilton that he wouldn’t be able to get enough protein to support his career on a plant-based diet. Many people believe that protein is hard to come by in vegan food – this is despite the fact that many athletes abstain from animal products. 

Hamilton’s experience was wildly different to doctors’ predictions, however. “I’ve won five world titles since then,” he said. “I’ve been more consistent than I ever was in the past. So it just takes proving people wrong. And that’s what I did.”

Lewis Hamilton’s animal advocacy

Vegan celebrity and race car driver Lewis Hamilton
Matthias Oesterle / Alamy Stock Photo Hamilton has regularly spoken out about animal issues

Hamilton has regularly used social media to raise awareness about animal issues. He previously told his followers that “Every bit of meat, chicken, or fish you eat, every bit of leather or fur you wear, has come from an animal that has been tortured, pulled away from their families and brutally killed.”

In 2019, he spoke out about the cruelty of whale hunting in the Faroe Islands, a “tradition” that dates back around 1,000 years. “How are any of these humans just standing there thinking this is ok,” he wrote alongside a video of the practice. “This is not in anyway shape or form ok. This is disgusting and Denmark, you need to put a stop to this!”

In the same year, he shared a graphic video of the reality of the leather industry, which sees cows killed so their skin can be used in coats, bags, and other fashion items. “Woke up feeling good today but this has just broke my spirit. This is so graphic, so barbaric,” he wrote. Hamilton has previously urged his employer, Mercedes, to ditch leather and move towards a vegan alternative. 

Hamilton was listed as an executive producer on the hit Netflix documentary The Game Changers. The film explores the health benefits of a vegan diet, with a particular focus on men and athletes. He also has a vegan dog, named Roscoe, and has publicly endorsed the benefits of feeding dogs plant-based diets. “Since [Roscoe] has gone vegan, his coat is much softer, his swollen paws have healed up, he is no longer limping with the pain of arthritis and his breathing has opened up. Super happy with the result and he is too,” he said.

Lewis Hamilton PETA controversy

Hamilton has worked with PETA, and has also been praised by the organization many times for his activism. In late 2022, however, the star hit headlines after he was slammed by the charity for what it described as a failure to speak out about dog cruelty perpetrated by Formula 1’s parent company, Liberty Media.

The company sponsored the Iditarod, which is a 1,000-mile race in Alaska in which over 150 dogs have reportedly died. The competition sees animals forced to pull sleds through some of the most extreme weather conditions on the planet.

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk wrote a letter to Hamilton, which stated: “We know you do care about dogs, so please don’t continue to stand idly by as animals continue to suffer or your silence will be taken as complicity. A word from you could save dogs every bit as precious as your Roscoe.”

In 2023, Hamilton was confronted by a PETA activist during an appearance alongside the Toto Wolff, the CEO of Mercedes, at the Forbes Iconoclast Summit. The activist held up a sign saying: “Iditarod 150+ Dead Dogs And Counting.”

“Lewis, I love you and respect you, and I know that your companionship with your dog demonstrates the love you have for animals,” the activist said.

“I beg you, please. We are begging you, please. We know that you don’t want dogs to suffer. The Iditarod does that. The Iditarod has a long-standing history, long and tragic history.”

Lewis Hamilton and Neat Burger

Vegan food from Lewis Hamilton's plant-based chain Neat Burger
Neat Burger Lewis Hamilton is co-founder of vegan fast food chain Neat Burger

In 2019, it was announced that Hamilton had invested in a vegan fast food restaurant called Neat Burger. The UK-based company is thought to be the first international burger chain, and it’s also been backed by Leonardo DiCaprio. At the time of writing, there are a number of branches in London, as well as one in NYC, and one in Dubai. Bosses are also said to be eyeing up further locations in Italy and the Middle East. 

“The response to Neat Burger since we opened has been incredible,” Hamilton previously said in a press statement. “I’m really proud of the boundaries we have been able to push in this space, and the plans for expansion are really exciting.”

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Is Ryan Gosling Vegan? A History Of His Animal Advocacy https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/is-ryan-gosling-vegan-animal-advocacy/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/is-ryan-gosling-vegan-animal-advocacy/#respond Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:52:28 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=294069 ‘Barbie’ star Ryan Gosling has been a vocal voice for animals over the years

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Ryan Gosling has been widely renowned for his role as Ken in the hugely successful 2023 Barbie movie, with viewers praising his performance and calling for him to be nominated for an Oscar. Most people will be unaware that, as well as being a talented actor, he’s also a keen animal advocate. But is he vegan?

Gosling has a long standing career dating back to the 1980s. He became known for being a child star on Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club in 1993, before going on to appear in kids’ TV shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid Of The Dark?. Now, Gosling is probably most famous for his roles in hit films like The Notebook, La La Land, and The Big Short

The actor is known for keeping his personal life private, and he’s never stated what diet he follows. He has, however, regularly spoken out for animals over the years. Animal rights group PETA even went so far as to describe Gosling as the organization’s “hero” back in 2011.

Is Ryan Gosling vegan?

Barbie star, actor Ryan Gosling on the red carpet
Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo Ryan Gosling has leant his support to a number of animal welfare campaigns over the years

Gosling has never publicly confirmed whether he eats a plant-based diet or follows a vegan lifestyle, and it isn’t thought that he completely omits animal products from his diet.

In 2015, Gosling’s wife and fellow actor Eva Mendes confirmed to Women’s Health that she didn’t eat meat, stating: “I don’t agree with factory farming here.” She added that abstaining from meat improved her health, saying: “My skin looked brighter and healthier overall.” It’s possible, therefore, that Gosling follows a mostly meat-free diet alongside his family, but there is no confirmation of this.

In 2022, Gosling said the “one dish he’d eat for the rest of his life” was “Eva’s mom’s Arroz con leche.” He said that this dish is like “an angel crying on your tongue.”

Arroz con leche – also known as Mexican rice pudding – is a sweet dish that’s often made with rice, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins. This therefore indicates that Gosling may eat dairy, though it’s not clear what the ingredients of Mendes’ mom’s version is. Water or coconut milk can also be used, meaning the dish can be suitable for plant-based diets.

Ryan Gosling’s animal advocacy

While we don’t know if Gosling is vegetarian or plant-based, he has regularly publicly spoken out for animals over the years. 

In 2003, he wrote to KFC Canada on behalf of animal rights organization PETA to urge the brand to improve the welfare of the chickens it slaughters. “I understand that the chickens raised for your restaurants live their entire lives crammed into dark sheds with countless other birds and that each bird lives on an amount of floor space roughly the size of a sheet of paper,” he wrote in a letter. “I was also surprised to learn that chickens from KFC suppliers routinely suffer broken bones from callous handling when workers grab them by their legs and stuff them into crates for transportation.”

He then described himself as an “advocate for the humane treatment of animals, before urging the company to implement “basic animal welfare standards.” 

Dairy and eggs

Gosling has also called out the dairy and egg industries, indicating that his disproval of animal products extends further than just meat.

In 2013, he once again teamed up with PETA to urge the dairy industry to stop dehorning cows, a process that has long been believed to be cruel. Dehorning involves removing the horns from calves, often without pain relief. Workers often burn away the horn tissue with hot irons or chemicals, or they may hack or gouge them out. “There is absolutely no reason – and no excuse – for the cruel, unnecessary practice of dehorning to continue,” Gosling said. “Please do the right thing and take action today.”

Caged chickens on a transport truck
Adobe Stock Gosling has called for improvements in chicken welfare

In 2015, the actor penned a letter to Costco urging the brand to stop selling eggs from caged hens. “I am writing today about the recent undercover investigation conducted by my friends at The Humane Society of the United States at a Costco egg supplier,” he wrote. “Video footage revealed abhorrent cruelty including rows upon rows of birds confined in filth-laden cages with the mummified corpses of their cage-mates – eating, sleeping, defecating, and laying eggs on top of dead birds – and hens’ wings, legs, and necks trapped in the corroded wires of their battery cages.”

Gosling also called on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve legal chicken welfare standards in the US back in 2011. 

Specifically, he was calling on the government body to outlaw foam-based slaughter for chickens. The foam method is widely believed to be inhumane, and involves suffocating birds by submerging them in foam. It can take around 15 minutes to die, and animal groups have likened the suffering to that of being buried alive or strangled. “If dogs and cats were killed in this way, the person committing these acts would be charged with cruelty to animals,” Gosling wrote. 

Ryan Gosling promotes vegan fashion

Film still from the Barbie film - Ryan Gosling's character Ken wears a faux fur coat and sunglasses
PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo Ryan Gosling’s character Ken wore a faux fur coat in Barbie (2023)

Gosling is seen wearing a fur coat in the Barbie film, and the actor confirmed in an interview that it was made with cruelty-free faux fur. His character is also seen sporting a pair of red boots reportedly made from vegan leather. 

Soon after the film was released, PETA released a statement praising the actor for donning animal-free clothing. “From his fabulous faux mink coat to his rad vegan leather boots, Ken serves looks that mirror actor Ryan Gosling’s own kindness to animals and refusal to wear fur,” said PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange.

His Barbie role isn’t the first time Gosling has been spotted in vegan fashion on screen. He starred in Blade Runner 2049 back in 2017, in which he reportedly wore a coat made from vegan shearling. Shearling is the skin and wool of a sheep or lamb, and is often used to make clothing. It’s thought that Gosling’s coat was animal-free, however. 

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Is Natalie Portman Vegan? Everything She’s Said About The Movement https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/is-natalie-portman-vegan/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/celebrities/is-natalie-portman-vegan/#respond Fri, 04 Aug 2023 21:14:21 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=293820 Natalie Portman is a well-known voice in the vegan community - find out about her diet, lifestyle, and activism

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Natalie Portman is one of the many vegan celebrities to regularly use her platform to advocate for animals.

The actor, who is known for her roles in films like Black Swan and Thor, has for years promoted the benefits of a plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle. While her activism may not be as public as that of some celebrities, like Pamela Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix, she has nevertheless publicly advocated against the animal-based food system on numerous occasions. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Natalie Portman’s vegan journey, as well as her animal advocacy. 

When did Natalie Portman go vegan?

Portman went vegetarian at the age of nine, before turning to veganism in 2011 after reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s 2009 book Eating Animals. The book is written on the premise that Foer is trying to decide whether to feed his son animal products. He then goes on a journey to explore the huge ramifications that our decision to eat meat has on animals, the planet, and ourselves. It mostly focuses on the cruelty of industrial farming, but it also considers the environmental and health costs of animal product production and consumption. 

The book has been praised for helping many people turn vegan. Portman had been friends with Foer since meeting him at a book reading as a Harvard University student in 2002. After she finished reading Eating Animals, she called him up and told him it could work as a documentary. The documentary was released in 2019, and Portman co-narrated it with Foer.  

Vegan actor Natalie Portman at the 92nd annual Academy Awards
UPI / Alamy Stock Photo Portman at the 92nd annual Academy Awards in 2020

“I think the family part of it was really meaningful to me,” Portman told LA Times in 2018. “I think I was pregnant when I read it, so Jonathan asking himself ‘What do I feed my children?’ really impacted me, because I was going through the same thing. I want to impart my values to my kid, but what’s healthy for them? What helps them?”

What has Natalie Portman said about veganism?

Portman has regularly discussed veganism and animal rights on public platforms. During a speech to 16,000 students in Los Angeles for WE Day, a celebration of youth activists, she said: “Only after I became active in women’s issues did I realize that my veganism was related to those very issues. Dairy and eggs don’t just come from cows and chickens, they come from female cows and female chickens. We’re exploiting female bodies and abusing the magic of female animals to create eggs and milk.”

Portman is referring to the fact that only female cows and hens are of use to the dairy and egg industries. “Dairy cows” are mothers who are forcibly impregnated before having their babies taken from them so humans can take the milk. Hens have been selectively bred to lay around 300 eggs a year (naturally this number would be around 12). This takes a huge toll on their bodies, and they often suffer from broken bones due to calcium deficiency. 

She also urged people not to feel shame about their veganism in a non-vegan world. “So now lots of people make fun of vegans, right?,” she said. “Lots of people make fun of anybody who cares about anything deeply, right? But I’m here to say, it is always a great thing to care … whether it’s environmental issues, animal rights, women’s rights, equality, never be afraid to show how much you care.”

Vegan celebrity Natalie Portman holding her book
Instagram/Natalie Portman The vegan actor holding her book, ‘Natalie Portman’s Fables’

Portman has also discussed the importance of veganism in terms of the environment. Animal agriculture is one of, if not the most, environmentally destructive industries there is. It contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as deforestation and biodiversity loss. Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter in 2023, Portman said: “My veganism is in large part an environmental choice, along with animal welfare. I haven’t bought or used any leather or fur or animal products in 20 years.”

Are Natalie Portman’s husband and kids vegan?

Portman has spoken publicly about her decision to raise her kids on a plant-based diet. She is mother to Aleph, 12, and Amalia, six, who she shares with her ballet dancer husband Benjamin Millepied.

Speaking to US Weekly about raising her kids meat-free, she said: “It comes really naturally because I think, you know, you tend to make one thing that everyone eats for dinner. We tend to eat vegan and vegetarian food in the house. It becomes like the normal stuff that kids get used to.”

Portman’s husband isn’t vegan, and this sometimes leads Aleph to question why he’s eating different foods. “There had been conversations because my husband is not vegan, and so my son has asked, ‘Why do you eat that and mommy doesn’t?’ And I talked to him about it, and it’s really changed. I think it’s very natural for children to relate to the stuff.”

She also said that she doesn’t try and persuade her husband to go vegan, stating: “I think that you always want to be respectful of other people’s choices. I don’t want anyone to ever give me a hard time about my choices. And of course, living together, you end up influencing each other too. So I think he’s certainly become more conscious of where his food comes from.”

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