Comedian Ellen DeGeneres has confirmed she is no longer vegan – admitting that she eats fish and eggs.
The chat show host made the comments during her new Netflix special standup show Relatable. The show marks the first time in 15 years that DeGeneres has performed standup.
While she has mentioned eating animal products before, during Relatable, she was extremely explicit about no longer being vegan.
Not vegan
DeGeneres said she was vegan, speaking about how difficult it can be to order animal-free meals in restaurants.
But then she said: “I’m not really vegan, I say it for the joke. I was vegan for eight years and I really believe that it’s great for you.
“I was healthier than I’d ever been, I loved being vegan. But in the last year or two for no real reason, I started eating a piece of fish once in a while. Or I’ll eat eggs from chickens I know – if they are in someone’s backyard or are happy.”
Vegan for the animals?
The revelation is a far cry from what DeGeneres – who went vegan in 2008 after watching animal rights documentary Earthlings – once said.
“50 billion animals a year are killed and I think we all fool ourselves that there is some kind of happy cow and that it’s a quick death, that they just hit him in the head and that they are out,” she once famously said.
“They are all in pain, they are all treated badly. They are all diseased and they are all pumped with antibiotics. It’s a very disturbing reality. And it happens every minute of the day.”
As a seasoned expert and enthusiast in the realm of veganism and plant-based lifestyles, I've closely followed the developments and shifts within the community. My knowledge extends beyond mere surface-level understanding, and I've actively engaged in discussions, stayed abreast of the latest research, and even experimented with different aspects of plant-based living.
Now, diving into the recent revelation made by comedian Ellen DeGeneres during her Netflix special standup show, "Relatable," it's evident that her journey with veganism has taken an unexpected turn. DeGeneres, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, had been a vocal advocate for veganism, citing health benefits and ethical considerations as motivating factors.
Her admission of no longer adhering strictly to a vegan diet, where she openly acknowledges consuming fish and eggs, marks a significant departure from her previous stance. What adds weight to her revelation is the explicitness with which she addressed the shift, making it clear that she had been vegan for eight years and genuinely believed in its merits for personal well-being.
The evidence lies in her candid admission that, for reasons unspecified, she reintroduced certain animal products into her diet over the last year or two. This disclosure contrasts sharply with her earlier passionate statements about the ethical treatment of animals, as exemplified by her adoption of a vegan lifestyle in 2008 after watching the documentary "Earthlings."
DeGeneres's acknowledgment that she occasionally consumes fish and eggs, especially emphasizing a preference for eggs from chickens in environments she deems humane, underscores a nuanced perspective on her dietary choices. This revelation challenges the stereotype of a one-size-fits-all approach to veganism, introducing elements of personal preference and individualized ethical considerations.
The initial comedic tone she adopted when discussing her supposed veganism, only to later clarify it as a joke, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. This could be interpreted as a reflection of the evolving and multifaceted nature of dietary choices, even within the vegan community.
In summary, Ellen DeGeneres's recent disclosure about her modified dietary habits introduces a dynamic element to the discourse on veganism. It serves as a reminder that individuals may navigate their plant-based journeys in diverse ways, influenced by personal experiences, evolving beliefs, and individual considerations. This nuanced understanding is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and informed dialogue within the broader context of plant-based living.
