I thought you were the Queen of everything…
Nobody loves All the Single Ladies more than I do.
Nobody loves Queen Bey more than I do.
But today, Beyonce has dropped down my “most loved celebrities” list. Dropped really far.
Let me explain.
Early last year, Beyonce and Jay Z announced they were going vegan. To say that vegans like me rejoiced would be an understatement. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to last. It was only for 22 days and then the power couple were back on the bacon. Literally.
Oh well. Nice try. Veganism isn’t for everyone. I get it.
But today, it turns out that vegan phase wasn't a phase. But rather a diet.
Beyonce has spruiked her 22-day vegan diet book and meal delivery service that she is sponsoring with trainer Marco Borges and it's all about getting healthy and losing weight.
"Psychologists have learned that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. So if you adopted a healthy habit over the course of 21 days, on the 22nd day you'd be armed with a new habit and that is the magic to sustainability," Marco says in a video shown on Good Morning America.
Beyonce has written the foreword for the book and her pre-recorded message in the video says,
"I am not naturally the thinnest woman. I have curves, I'm proud of my curves. I have struggled since a young age with diets. Finding something that actually works, that actually keeps the weight off has been difficult for me."
I'm all for people getting healthy. I'm all for people finding a diet that works for them in the long term.
But here is why I'm pissed at Bey.
Watch the Good Morning America segment...post continues after the video.
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Being a vegan, I cop a lot of slack. I get grilled every single time I go out to a restaurant with new people. I get challenged about why I'm vegan. I have people throw stats and facts my way like I've never heard of them before. I take it. I know it comes with the territory. I don't stand on the table and preach my vegan sermon. I just answer their questions politely (while fuming on the inside).
In many cases, though, after really struggling with why I am vegan, people nod their head...oh, you're trying to lose weight.
You see, people think that being vegan is healthy. After all, the only thing vegans eat are vegetables and fruit. We miss out on all the goodness of cake and bacon and Maccas.
We, the vegans, are also seriously under nourished. We get no vitamins. Nothing to sustain ourselves. We voluntarily restrict ourselves from eating certain food.
Sounds exactly like a diet. Vegans are on a permanent diet (until they come close to death, bail and eat a steak).
If you can't hear it, the above was loaded with sarcasm.
That's the problem I have with Queen Bey. She's (accidentally) promoting the stereotype of veganism as a diet. Trust me...you don't lose weight on a vegan diet. I've been vegan for the past five years and I am exactly the same weight as I was when I started (except for you know...the baby weight I've piled on recently). Vegans also don't survive on veggies and fruit (although we probably have more veggies and fruit than non-vegans).
Veganism isn't about losing weight. It also isn't really about eating healthier (although that's a nice side effect).
At the end of the day, it's a lifestyle choice.
I'm vegan because I don't like the farming industry. I don't like the way animals are kept before they are slaughtered for meat, and I don't like that they are slaughtered. Just my personal opinion.
I'm also anti-leather and anti-fur. Where I can, I avoid purchasing any products made from animal products.
So, Queen Bey, I know you don't mean to. I'm grateful that you are trying to give vegans a shout out, but you're making our lives worse by promoting the stereotype.
What do you think about Beyonce and her 22-day vegan diet?
CLICK THROUGH the gallery to see all the beautiful photos from Beyonce's instagram.
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