Wow girl this is making stuff unnecessarily complicated and vague.. I hope it will be forever clear that most “vegans” are not scary influencers but just normal people, not perfect, just do what they can for what they believe causes the least possible suffering. Also they existed long before the internet and really can think for themselves - mind blowing I know.. It is not about perfection. Veganism is about the fact that factory farming and other animal torture is evil, it is NOT about exploiting/manipulating a following for your personal benefit and it is NOT about getting skinny and all that kind of fake influencer sht.. I feel intensely disappointed about this and I feel so sorry for anyone who has such a bad experience and made to feel manipulated into something which is ment to be supportive and a good cause :)
I could write a whole essay as a response on this as someone who turned vegan at the same time, due to same influences and upgrading my ed to more socially acceptable one. Almost 10 years on I still call myself vegan when I explain my diet to others but in reality there are so many caveats. We get one life. I do still believe the core of veganism, do as little harm as you can - I think this should extend to other people and showing them kindness. Wishing you strength midst the online ridiculousness- and I wish for us all to live deliciously xx
As a vegan myself, I'm genuinely the most curious about how you coped with the ethical side of starting to eat animal products again?
For me, being vegan is as simple as trying to do as least harm as possible in the world, and I really can't imagine stepping back from that. I don't follow the people you mentioned or care about the online vegan spaces, so there's definitely lots of us who are doing it for the right reasons :)
And this is not judging, just interested how you can shift your mindset so dramatically after knowing everything you've learned about the industry.
I went vegan overnight but quitting took a very long time. I hope you never have to step back from veganism because for many of us it is a sad process. Losing your health and at the same time having to question your food ethics brings up complex and conflicting feelings.
Vegan documentaries are very educational when it comes to exposing how factory farming works but very biased when it comes to regenerative farming practices. They villainise the entire animal agriculture industry but it’s not that black and white. I’m way more aware of where my food is coming from now and prefer supporting small farmers instead of the Bill Gates funded Beyond burgers I used to eat. I’m not interested in converting anyone to my diet, it’s what works for me and my body, definitely doesn’t work for my wallet but I don’t mind investing in my health. I was chronically ill for years and learned the importance of taking care of my body.
Veganism is great and I’m happy for anyone that is thriving on it, I wasn’t unfortunately, as I mentioned in the essay I was struggling for four years. Hope this offers some insight!
If I may also add, as someone who had to stop being vegan due to personal health issues, it was indeed a difficult transition. I think the only way I could feel mildly better was to still minimize the meat and eggs I eat so that I can spend that bit extra money to purchase from local farms that are not industrial. Also I try to eat mainly fish and chicken, to lessen the environmental footprint. These are concessions, but they help.
I don't know about others, but for me I still get sad every time I eat meat and it has been about 2 years now. There is a level of cognitive dissonance I just have to deal with when eating animal products. There's also the internalized feeling that I failed... it's all very complex!
Sounds like you're brainwashed. The animal agriculture is evil (definitely on large scale, but also smaller). Veganism is about not viewing & treating animals as commodities and for profit. It's still bad (and non-vegan) to exploit fellow species for money or our own benefit in general, even if the people doing this are better ethically than Bill Gates and only own one farm instead of a conglomerate.
Not gonna lie; it was extremely sad to read this, I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, but I do feel bad for all the ex-vegans that got sucked into this toxic, borderline ed way of eating. Hope I don't come off as extremely judgy when I say I could never see eye-to-eye with raw vegans or people like Freelee. I went vegan back in 2017 but feel very lucky to have done so following vegan content creators that don't promote this kind of extreme diet; I've lived a very healthy life since by eating whole foods, junk food every once in a while and indulging on mock meats here and there. Even though my partner of 10 years isn't vegan, we share meals at vegan restaurants or regular restaurants that carry vegan options; at home we each cook our own meals but it has never hindered our relationship. I'm the only vegan in my friend group but everyone has always been very accommodating and even curious, my best friend has even started to learn and practice vegan baking for whenever I come visit. All this to say, I hope other vegans out there know that there isn't only one way of eating when it comes to veganism, find what feels right for you and don't fall for extremist propaganda like cutting off your relationships with omnivores and surrounding yourself with only certain kind of vegans.
I generally believe my health issues started when I tried to go "raw til 4." ALSO didn't know you went to Chang Mai and did the whole thing 😂😂😂 holy shit, the people who know, KNOW how weird it was to be converted to being vegan back in 2014, 2015. I stopped after about two and a half years.
I recently went through a breakup with a specific ideology that felt like I left a cult.... yes, the information, system, or belief itself doesn't have to be a full blown cult (such as veganism), but I am convinced: it's the people, the community, the public shaming for "ex members" which makes these movements very VERY culty. Anyway, hurray for sharing the same trauma <3 and - fuck these haters haha.
Puritanism is so last century indeed. The vegans on social media are exhausting. Luckily in normal life, most people I meet, vegan or not, alre pretty chill and know life is not black and white. Signed, a 10y vegan
My perspective is not one of a vegan but someone who tries to be sustainable in this life and am always learning and changing. I’ve had people in my life that were vegan for all the right reasons to only run into health complications as well. I’m sure it works for a lot of people just not those that I know. Everyone’s body is different and veganism can be very strict when it comes to being sustainable that not everybody can afford as well. And people will always judge someone for something. So the best advice I can give to you and to others that read this is to live as sustainably as you can and to be a positive force in the world. You’ve got this!
I listen to this Substack not just as a testimony to the “cult of veganism”, but as a reflection of the anger you’ve felt from the cancel culture you experienced – and rightfully so. I’ve followed your journey on social media from your very start, and your content has always been about open-mindedness, knowledge, bravery, and respect. The self-loathing trolls who turned your comment section into a modern-day digital colosseum are clearly not your audience. They don't share your values. We are your audience. And we’re happy to see you evolve and not remain the same person you were 5 or 10 years ago (no offense to that person, she was awesome too, but in a different way). We’ve grown and changed too. Looking forward to your next creative steps. Your audience is still here to support you on any platform. Greetings from Greece!
I relate to your vegan journey a lot. I was a vegan for 7 years, one of those annoying ones who tries to convert friends and family, veganism was a core part of my personality and ethics. It started to change when I contracted an incurable chronic illness that has completely disabled me and changed my life. I became homebound, sometimes bedbound and trust me, in that state of suffering, you are willing to try anything to get even a little bit better. I changed my diet to include more animal products because I thought it might help and at times I was so depraved of any joy that I indulged in things like cheese or eggs. Suffering changes you a lot and I hope none of you has to experience that. I also thought I’d be vegan forever and I still think that it’s the moral thing to do, but in my current state I can’t muster up to continue. I think a lot of these militant vegans have more empathy for animals than humans and it shows. I have empathy for you and wish you the best!
I'm also an ex vegan, I became one Influenced by my partner at that time. Sometimes I still feel guilty for not being vegan anymore, sometimes I think I should go back to being vegan. I do feel the whole cult thing is relatable. I used to really feel it at times. And also, just in general, your content lately has felt relatable to me. I understand the disappointment some ppl might feel about your shifted values but it's not justifiable to be so mean.
I was a vegan for 2 years, which is really not a lot, but it was enough to wreck my gut health, and as a consequence my mental health (did you know there is such a thing as eating too much fiber when you have connective tissue issues??? I did not, but I do now!). I was sad when I started eating eggs again, but since it's one of the only things I can digest on certain days, so be it. I was the only vegan in my friend group so I did not have any push back, if anything I believe people were relieved to see me eating "normal" again. I relate to your story a lot, Kristen. I am glad you found a healthier path. I will miss you on YouTube, but I look forward to hear more from you in here.
People have to learn that there are more important things in life than their ideologies, such as treating other people decently - as in not spamming people with hate comments and making hate videos about them. they all need to realise that there is a real person on the other side of the screen, and just fucking chill and get a hobby. I seriously need to see an analysis of hate culture, it feels like it’s growing and i’ve even seen people spreading lies about people online that turn into a wave of hate.
Another worrying factor of veganism is the pipeline to crunchy and then anti vax, anti meds and finally tradwifery. I’d to hear your takes on the dark sides of veganism and sustainability as someone who saw just how bad it can get!
Wow girl this is making stuff unnecessarily complicated and vague.. I hope it will be forever clear that most “vegans” are not scary influencers but just normal people, not perfect, just do what they can for what they believe causes the least possible suffering. Also they existed long before the internet and really can think for themselves - mind blowing I know.. It is not about perfection. Veganism is about the fact that factory farming and other animal torture is evil, it is NOT about exploiting/manipulating a following for your personal benefit and it is NOT about getting skinny and all that kind of fake influencer sht.. I feel intensely disappointed about this and I feel so sorry for anyone who has such a bad experience and made to feel manipulated into something which is ment to be supportive and a good cause :)
I could write a whole essay as a response on this as someone who turned vegan at the same time, due to same influences and upgrading my ed to more socially acceptable one. Almost 10 years on I still call myself vegan when I explain my diet to others but in reality there are so many caveats. We get one life. I do still believe the core of veganism, do as little harm as you can - I think this should extend to other people and showing them kindness. Wishing you strength midst the online ridiculousness- and I wish for us all to live deliciously xx
As a vegan myself, I'm genuinely the most curious about how you coped with the ethical side of starting to eat animal products again?
For me, being vegan is as simple as trying to do as least harm as possible in the world, and I really can't imagine stepping back from that. I don't follow the people you mentioned or care about the online vegan spaces, so there's definitely lots of us who are doing it for the right reasons :)
And this is not judging, just interested how you can shift your mindset so dramatically after knowing everything you've learned about the industry.
I went vegan overnight but quitting took a very long time. I hope you never have to step back from veganism because for many of us it is a sad process. Losing your health and at the same time having to question your food ethics brings up complex and conflicting feelings.
Vegan documentaries are very educational when it comes to exposing how factory farming works but very biased when it comes to regenerative farming practices. They villainise the entire animal agriculture industry but it’s not that black and white. I’m way more aware of where my food is coming from now and prefer supporting small farmers instead of the Bill Gates funded Beyond burgers I used to eat. I’m not interested in converting anyone to my diet, it’s what works for me and my body, definitely doesn’t work for my wallet but I don’t mind investing in my health. I was chronically ill for years and learned the importance of taking care of my body.
Veganism is great and I’m happy for anyone that is thriving on it, I wasn’t unfortunately, as I mentioned in the essay I was struggling for four years. Hope this offers some insight!
If I may also add, as someone who had to stop being vegan due to personal health issues, it was indeed a difficult transition. I think the only way I could feel mildly better was to still minimize the meat and eggs I eat so that I can spend that bit extra money to purchase from local farms that are not industrial. Also I try to eat mainly fish and chicken, to lessen the environmental footprint. These are concessions, but they help.
I don't know about others, but for me I still get sad every time I eat meat and it has been about 2 years now. There is a level of cognitive dissonance I just have to deal with when eating animal products. There's also the internalized feeling that I failed... it's all very complex!
Sounds like you're brainwashed. The animal agriculture is evil (definitely on large scale, but also smaller). Veganism is about not viewing & treating animals as commodities and for profit. It's still bad (and non-vegan) to exploit fellow species for money or our own benefit in general, even if the people doing this are better ethically than Bill Gates and only own one farm instead of a conglomerate.
Not gonna lie; it was extremely sad to read this, I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, but I do feel bad for all the ex-vegans that got sucked into this toxic, borderline ed way of eating. Hope I don't come off as extremely judgy when I say I could never see eye-to-eye with raw vegans or people like Freelee. I went vegan back in 2017 but feel very lucky to have done so following vegan content creators that don't promote this kind of extreme diet; I've lived a very healthy life since by eating whole foods, junk food every once in a while and indulging on mock meats here and there. Even though my partner of 10 years isn't vegan, we share meals at vegan restaurants or regular restaurants that carry vegan options; at home we each cook our own meals but it has never hindered our relationship. I'm the only vegan in my friend group but everyone has always been very accommodating and even curious, my best friend has even started to learn and practice vegan baking for whenever I come visit. All this to say, I hope other vegans out there know that there isn't only one way of eating when it comes to veganism, find what feels right for you and don't fall for extremist propaganda like cutting off your relationships with omnivores and surrounding yourself with only certain kind of vegans.
I generally believe my health issues started when I tried to go "raw til 4." ALSO didn't know you went to Chang Mai and did the whole thing 😂😂😂 holy shit, the people who know, KNOW how weird it was to be converted to being vegan back in 2014, 2015. I stopped after about two and a half years.
I recently went through a breakup with a specific ideology that felt like I left a cult.... yes, the information, system, or belief itself doesn't have to be a full blown cult (such as veganism), but I am convinced: it's the people, the community, the public shaming for "ex members" which makes these movements very VERY culty. Anyway, hurray for sharing the same trauma <3 and - fuck these haters haha.
Puritanism is so last century indeed. The vegans on social media are exhausting. Luckily in normal life, most people I meet, vegan or not, alre pretty chill and know life is not black and white. Signed, a 10y vegan
My perspective is not one of a vegan but someone who tries to be sustainable in this life and am always learning and changing. I’ve had people in my life that were vegan for all the right reasons to only run into health complications as well. I’m sure it works for a lot of people just not those that I know. Everyone’s body is different and veganism can be very strict when it comes to being sustainable that not everybody can afford as well. And people will always judge someone for something. So the best advice I can give to you and to others that read this is to live as sustainably as you can and to be a positive force in the world. You’ve got this!
I listen to this Substack not just as a testimony to the “cult of veganism”, but as a reflection of the anger you’ve felt from the cancel culture you experienced – and rightfully so. I’ve followed your journey on social media from your very start, and your content has always been about open-mindedness, knowledge, bravery, and respect. The self-loathing trolls who turned your comment section into a modern-day digital colosseum are clearly not your audience. They don't share your values. We are your audience. And we’re happy to see you evolve and not remain the same person you were 5 or 10 years ago (no offense to that person, she was awesome too, but in a different way). We’ve grown and changed too. Looking forward to your next creative steps. Your audience is still here to support you on any platform. Greetings from Greece!
I relate to your vegan journey a lot. I was a vegan for 7 years, one of those annoying ones who tries to convert friends and family, veganism was a core part of my personality and ethics. It started to change when I contracted an incurable chronic illness that has completely disabled me and changed my life. I became homebound, sometimes bedbound and trust me, in that state of suffering, you are willing to try anything to get even a little bit better. I changed my diet to include more animal products because I thought it might help and at times I was so depraved of any joy that I indulged in things like cheese or eggs. Suffering changes you a lot and I hope none of you has to experience that. I also thought I’d be vegan forever and I still think that it’s the moral thing to do, but in my current state I can’t muster up to continue. I think a lot of these militant vegans have more empathy for animals than humans and it shows. I have empathy for you and wish you the best!
I'm also an ex vegan, I became one Influenced by my partner at that time. Sometimes I still feel guilty for not being vegan anymore, sometimes I think I should go back to being vegan. I do feel the whole cult thing is relatable. I used to really feel it at times. And also, just in general, your content lately has felt relatable to me. I understand the disappointment some ppl might feel about your shifted values but it's not justifiable to be so mean.
I was a vegan for 2 years, which is really not a lot, but it was enough to wreck my gut health, and as a consequence my mental health (did you know there is such a thing as eating too much fiber when you have connective tissue issues??? I did not, but I do now!). I was sad when I started eating eggs again, but since it's one of the only things I can digest on certain days, so be it. I was the only vegan in my friend group so I did not have any push back, if anything I believe people were relieved to see me eating "normal" again. I relate to your story a lot, Kristen. I am glad you found a healthier path. I will miss you on YouTube, but I look forward to hear more from you in here.
Great piece, I relate to this one a lot as an ex-vegan
People have to learn that there are more important things in life than their ideologies, such as treating other people decently - as in not spamming people with hate comments and making hate videos about them. they all need to realise that there is a real person on the other side of the screen, and just fucking chill and get a hobby. I seriously need to see an analysis of hate culture, it feels like it’s growing and i’ve even seen people spreading lies about people online that turn into a wave of hate.
Another worrying factor of veganism is the pipeline to crunchy and then anti vax, anti meds and finally tradwifery. I’d to hear your takes on the dark sides of veganism and sustainability as someone who saw just how bad it can get!
Great post !