One of the founding members of Queen, Brian May, is urging people to adopt a plant-based diet, as “eating animals has brought us to our knees.”
Concerned about the current global pandemic and its link to meat consumption, May thinks it’s time for the world to reevaluate our food system.
“If you want to get deep into it, I think we should be looking again at whether we should be eating animals,” he told NME. “That’s a central issue here, this pandemic seemed to come from people eating animals, and it’s becoming more well known that eating animals is not the greatest thing for our health.”
The legendary guitarist has been vegan since the beginning of 2020, when he took up the month-long Veganuary challenge. He decided to make his new temporary diet a permanent lifestyle change, realizing it’s “the way forward” for a better world.
“To me it was an experiment, because for a long time I’d been an animal campaigner but grappled with the fact that I was still eating them occasionally,” May said. “But to go vegan was just a decision, and I haven’t been preachy about it, but now that we’ve seen more of the effects of how eating animals has brought us to our knees as a species, I think it’s time to re-examine our world in a way that doesn’t abuse other species.”
May isn’t the only musical icon criticizing animal-based eating. In an interview with U.S. radio host Howard Stern about the coronavirus pandemic, fellow musician Paul McCartney recently slammed cruel Chinese wet markets.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if this is the only thing it seems like you can blame on those wet markets,” McCartney said. “It seems like SARS, avian flu, all sorts of other stuff that has afflicted us … and what’s it for? For these quite medieval practices. They need to clean up their act. This may lead to [change]. If this doesn’t, I don’t know what will.”
It’s time for the world to admit the dangers involved in live animal markets and factory farms. A plant-based revolution could save us from the next global pandemic.
This would be wonderful:)
We all need to stand together to put an end to the cruelty towards innocent animals. They are friends and family NOT for food or for evil people to abuse. Brian May, you’re the greatest.
If everyone had Brian May’s compassion for sentient beings the world would be a much healthier and happier place. I find it intriguing that humans can have such contrasting personalities and opinions. If some of us can appreciate that it is morally reprehensible to exploit and abuse animals, it is alarming that others seem to be completely oblivious to the incomprehensible collective suffering that humans inflict on animals. Also, I applaud Brian’s noble gesture not to play Glastonbury because of Michael Eavis’s support of the pointless and cruel Government cull of badgers. What a nice guy!
Thank you Brian!
Dr. May is not only a brilliant musician, but an active animal welfare advocate. He’s the best of the best. So glad he’s gone vegan, I’ve never regretted it.
I’m with you! Plant based diet is the way to go!
I cannot be kind or friendly when Asian countries are so cruel… STOP ALL COUNTRIES FROM HARMING ANIMALS AND IMPOSE THE HARSHEST EXTENT OF THE LAW ON THEM
Well said Brian May! It has come to a point that we either change out habits today or we will have a prospect future for ourselves, our children and our children’s children.
Going plant based is the only way to save this planet.
If you still need to be more convince, look up information and statistics yourself from different sources.
We must fight
Best idea
I was a vegetarian, but now I am VEGAN!!! Been vegan for over 20 yrs. I will never eat meat or cheese or milk again.
Please be as ‘preachy’ as you like Dr Bri – many of us fully support you!
I wholly agree with going plant based as a diet. Many of these industries have raised animals in horrific, unsanitary, cruel environment. This must end!!! Save the precious animals and adopt a healthy diet!
Eating flesh is UGLY.
One thing we should clarify about “wet markets” is they’re happening all over the world—even in the USA.
Also, slaughterhouses everywhere are hotbeds of pathogens.
Good for you Brian. Way to go. I am an animal advocate and adore the animal kingdom. They are invaluable being on this earth. Thank you!
You’re group Queen was one of our all time favorite groups. Fabulous, over the top!!!!
Take good care and be safe!!!
I couldn’t agree more — 100% FOR a plant=based diet — everyone benefits on MANY levels : Humans, Animals, our Planet.
What a beautiful person, what a beautiful picture.
Well done Brian May and Paul McCartney for their helpful comments. We have exploited animals for too long and it has gone from reasonable to ridiculous with the cruelty now involved in the killing of animals for the table.
The Chinese and some other countries have taken the killing business to a whole new level putting the whole world at risk
This is unacceptable.
I support his move now how do we urge people to eat healthy, and we can also create more food as we would need less land for animals food which requires 1 acre for every cow think of all the water and land we can save and all the green gas we will prevent. go vegan/vegetarian
I totally agree with this as well, GO VEGAN, learn from this, I wish you all well, be safe, be healthy, go vegan.
I totally agree with this as well, GO VEGAN, learn from this, I wish you all well, be safe, be healthy, go vegan.
Agreed that there needs to be greater raising of awareness to try and switch to plant based diets, especially given the alternatives to meat available which are nothing compared to the initial plant based sausages etc of the 80’s. recipes have improved, and favours and textures as well.
Thank you Brian.
I am so glad to hear you say that. 💜
Our eating habit and fixation to eat animal flesh from factory farms, processed garbage, the horrendous wet markets or any facilities that torture and slaughter animals have brought the world to its knees. Many have warned us of a virus and decease that could destroy us but no one would listen Now, if we don’t change and enjoy a healthy plant-based diet, the next virus may just kill us all.
Ban these wet markets and wildlife trade.
I am pleased that these great stars are making people realise what the Asian world is doing to to the planet by eating any thing that moves, except Humans
Did you know Dr. Brian May of Queen is an astrophysicist? Pretty cool, huh?
Thankful for Brian May’s great example!!!
Thankful for Brian May’s great example!!!
Thankful for Brian May’s great example!!!
It really is so easy to be vegan. It’s very healthy and best for everyone and everything. No animals should be tortured or murdered to please the palate of selfish humans .To eat the flesh of animals to me is like cannibalism. I was brought up to eat meat but soon changed my way of thinking when i realised what i was actually eating. I have a clear conscience and am never ever sorry that i became vegan.
We thank you for speaking out!!!
I have from the beginning saw this latest health crisis as a wake up call for the people of this world.
the earth is screaming at us to wake up… and when the big business ass holes of the world can stop thinking about their multiple homes.. and air planes and how rich they can become,,,
we might start to save our Home while there is still a very little window of opportunity…..
or this pandemic will be just a drill for what will befall us when our eco systems really collapse.
I would love to see the world and it’s human inhabitants to consume on plant based foods, that would be a terrific thing and win for animals.