Vegan Influencer Faces Backlash Over Her “Cruelty-Free” Meal; Netizens School Her

Supporting veganism, being a pure vegetarian or supporting a cruelty-free diet comes with its own set of limitations. This is what happened to Nikki, a social media influencer. It was a normal day for her until she posted a picture of her vegetarian thali on X(formerly Twitter), captioning it ‘I’m proud to be a vegetarian’. And saying that her plate is free from cruelty. Soon, the comments on her post were filled with criticism, bashing her for the caption.

Vegan Influencer’s Post Goes Viral For Being Tone-Deaf

I’m proud to be a vegetarian. My plate is free from tears, cruelty and guilt. pic.twitter.com/iV7EYkvdFz

— N (@Nikkiiee_d) May 16, 2025

Nikki, a social media influencer, quite popular on X, posted a picture of her vegetarian, cruelty-free meal, which drew backlash from the netizens. They furiously slammed her by opining that being a vegetarian can be equally cruel to animals and nature. They criticised her for being unaware of the practices which are employed in milk production or the unethical farming of vegetables these days. One comment read, “Go read the entire process of how vegetables are grown to how they land on your plate. And stop romanticising your stupid so-called ethical choices. Chances are you are already deficient in B12, iron and zinc.”

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The Divided Opinions Of Netizens 

Not only that, some of the comments also contained the fact that even the curd and butter-making process is not cruelty-free as it seems.  One comment highlighted that many cows and buffaloes go through numerous atrocities for the curd on your plate. Another comment on her post read, “Dairy products involve a lot of cruelty to produce, but since the methods are not visible, the end consumers remain ignorant”. However, on the other hand, some users also mentioned that the thali looked tempting and tasty. Nikki, the vegan influencer in question, has not responded to all these reactions and comments. 

Also Read: Yuvraj Singh’s New Restaurant Has A Vegetarian/Vegan Menu; Here’s Why

This situation opens up our eyes to the changing eating trends of the world and the eating habits of the people. Some might support veganism, vegetarianism, or some might be happy with their non-vegetarian food. Or a diet which includes a balance of both plant-based and animal products. We can only conclude that food choices and eating habits are quite personal and often shaped by one’s individual choices and upbringing. Plus, the culture and the lifestyle also play a part. Whether we term a meal as ethical, cruel, or cruelty-free, it all depends on our personal choices. There is no right or wrong way to eat. The only thing which should be kept in mind is to respect all the dietary choices of people around us. 

Cover Image Courtesy: @Nikkiiee_d on X.