Everyone wants a role model, and if you’re vegan, you might naturally gravitate toward celebrities and individuals who share this ethos. Many vegans feel extremely strongly about the ethics of eating and using animal products, and want to support others who agree – but that might leave you wondering about the reality of this situation. For example, is Ricky Gervais a true vegan?
Ricky Gervais announced that he had become a vegan after many years of vegetarianism. He has donated to animal charities, criticized modern farming practices, and spoken out against other acts of animal cruelty, such as bullfighting and the use of fur. Gervais announced that he’s vegan in January 2022.
In this article, we’ll find out a bit more about Gervais’ announcement, his animal rights advocacy, and his vegetarian past. We’ll also look at how Gervais’ commitment may have a positive impact on vegans everywhere.
Is Ricky Gervais Vegan?
Ricky Gervais has been known for his vegetarianism for years and has often tweeted about vegan and vegetarian meals, including vegan meals that he turned to for comfort during the pandemic, which were said to include tofu and vegan meatballs. His partner, Jane Fallon, has described herself as being 80 percent vegan and took part in the Veganuary challenge in 2019.
Ricky Gervais has done a lot for animal welfare over the years, and this has been followed up by a conversion to full veganism, as he revealed to Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show in January 2022. He jokingly answered a question about cannibalism by pointing out that he is vegan and couldn’t eat anybody.
His other work for the sake of animals has included things like:
- Working with the Humane Society in 2021 on an animated short video called Save Ralph
- Campaigning against the fake animal rescue videos that have become popular on YouTube
- Calling on other celebrities to take the Veganuary pledge
- Sharing animal rights issues online with his large following
- Pledging much of his fortune to animal charities (unspecified numbers and charities)
- Campaigning against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival
- Speaking out against animal testing, with the belief that AI capacities have now rendered this obsolete
- Being vegetarian for many years prior to becoming a vegan (dates are unconfirmed)
- Campaigning against puppy farms
- Pushing back against the fur trade, and calling on the British government for stricter controls on fur imports
Gervais has been listed for multiple awards relating to animal rights, including The Cecil Award from the Humane Society International (2018); the PETA Person of the Year Award (2013); and the Lord Houghton Award for outstanding service to animal welfare (2016). These demonstrate his commitment to animals, which goes beyond a statement about veganism, and show a lasting focus on this area.
It’s not clear exactly when Ricky Gervais became a vegan; although he announced it in January 2022, some sources speculate that it could have been much earlier than this. He identified himself as vegetarian in August 2020, but may have swapped to veganism soon after this, or waited a year or two.
How Does Gervais’ Veganism Aid Other Vegans?
Gervais has been long-admired for his commitment to animal welfare. He has sent out many messages reminding people of the importance of animals, including a tweet in 2013 reminding people that animals are our equals and our family, and we should be kind to them. He, therefore, has the credibility to make an excellent vegan role model.
Gervais also has millions of followers and is not afraid to use his platform to promote and draw attention to animal rights and welfare. He has demonstrated multiple times that he will take on a variety of campaigns, from trophy hunting to the dog meat festival, showing comprehensive compassion for animals in all sorts of situations.
A surprising number of people are motivated to try veganism – and become vegans – by social media posts and celebrity action. A survey done in 2019 found that more than 10 percent of people turn to veganism as a result of social media posts. Gervais’ enormous reach makes his open conversion to veganism significant.
This is particularly true for young teens, who might be more influenced by celebrity behavior than adults. There’s no doubt that Gervais’ statement about his veganism will have influenced others in this direction. It also helps to normalize the ethical approach, making non-vegans more open to and familiar with it.
Conclusion
Ricky Gervais confirmed that he is vegan in January 2022 and that he was vegetarian in 2020. He is known for his passionate defense of animal welfare and campaigns against many cruel practices, so this step is no surprise – but it is a win for the vegan community, as Gervais has extensive social media reach and the power to influence people toward this lifestyle.
