by Christine Pesta
While it has been gratifying to most vegans to see that veganism is beginning to catch on around the globe, some may not view it as doing so in leaps and bounds. Others may argue that it has spread much faster over the last three to five years than expected.
Although the impact of people trying to live a healthier, more compassionate lifestyle, that is also environmentally-friendly, is beginning to get more recognition worldwide, one cannot help but wonder what direction the planet would be headed in if more public figures raised their voices in an effort to help.
Celebrities from all areas, be it entertainment, sports, or even politics, have a fan base. That group of people may follow a public figure’s career in many ways – watching their movies, reading their books, attending games or concerts, dressing like them, or even styling their hair the same way as that person they idolize.
With the ability to influence people in such a way on a world stage, and our planet in the state it’s currently in, one must ask why more vegan celebrities are not vocal about their lifestyle.
Yes, there are many who are, and are trying to make a difference where they can, but there are others that seem to only discuss being vegan when asked, and others that no one even knows are leading that lifestyle. Of course, even public figures would like to, and should be allowed to, keep certain aspects of their life private. However, when the difference between losing the planet to climate change (because not everyone currently occupying it is making an effort in some way to help save it), and finding a way out of the mess we are all in, can in some part be helped along by those with substantial influence, some may feel a vegan lifestyle is not something that should fall into the category of a thing to be kept private.
Not everyone wishes to share their religious beliefs or political point of view, and that is understandable. But if an athlete, for instance, with millions of kids looking up to him or her were to speak out about how becoming vegan can help to impact the environment in a positive way, it might make for those generations of kids growing up to perhaps consider changing they way they eat, as well as how their actions can impact the Earth. Adult fans, with even more of an ability to control what choices they make in their lives, can also make a difference by adopting the vegan lifestyle.
Everyone is aware of musician and restauranteur Moby, singers Morrissey and Billie Eilish, and actors such as Joaquin Phoenix, Pamela Anderson, and Woody Harrelson being vegan. They are celebrities who have been very vocal about their beliefs and their lifestyle. In fact, the comments made by Phoenix during his acceptance speech at the Oscars are still being talked about, as well as clips of it shown on television and social media.
Why? Because he used a global platform to try to wake everyone up to a problem that he felt needed addressing, but the world either has no clue about or chooses to ignore. While those celebrities make headlines for their choice to be outspoken, is anyone aware that James Cameron, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stevie Wonder, Peter Dinklage, Arianna Grande, Anthony Kiedis, Tom Brady, Lewis Hamilton, Cory Booker, Geoff Rowley, Travis Barker, Steve O, and Venus Williams are also vegan?
That is just a small fraction of the number of public figures who not everyone is aware have made the choice to adopt a vegan lifestyle. That is, again, not to say that many such celebrities won’t discuss the topic when asked, but they may not be as widely known for being outspoken about it as Stella McCartney, Mayim Bialik, Natalie Portman, or Emily Deschanel.
There are those who feel that the celebrities who have made the choice to become vegan, must now decide to use their influence to make the world a better place. Of course, not everyone shares that opinion. Some may even feel that it might hurt the vegan movement if it is not looked upon as a responsible decision they are making as a concerned citizen of the planet, but as just another trendy cause, with no one taking it seriously.
Everyone will have their opinion on the subject, but maybe everyone should also ask themselves what they would do if they had the sort of celebrity status that could help to change the world. Would they?
Christine Pesta is a writer, and the owner and Executive Editor of Live Your Life Vegan. You can follow her here, on Live Your Life Vegan, where she contributes regularly, as well as on social media.
