The movie pitch is genius. Imagine a film that exposes venture capitalists who create and then exploit popular social trends for their own profit. These capitalists would have no morals and target progressive ideologies, such as the Green New Deal and veganism, for their next big money-making scheme. Taylor Sheridan, the renowned writer for hit shows and films like “Yellowstone” and “Sicario,” could pen such a script, as he has already done extensive research on veganism.
In a candid interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Sheridan did not hold back in voicing his issues with veganism. He began by calling it “one of the most absurd positions anyone can take,” citing that it is not a valid ethical choice as it still leads to the death of plants. “I have plowed a field. It is carnage. It is 12 feet of carnage,” Sheridan shared, arguing that every plant eaten will eventually be tilled into the ground.
Rogan chimed in, sharing a quote from rocker Ted Nugent who was also a guest on the show. “If you want to kill the most things, become a vegan,” Rogan paraphrased from Nugent’s previous appearance. He added that it is a significant philosophical debate whether people value all life equally and that small creatures, such as rodents and insects, are also affected by veganism.
Sheridan is no stranger to promoting his viewpoints through his work. In one episode of the popular series “Yellowstone,” his character John Dutton challenges a vegan character named Summer, asking “How cute does an animal have to be before you care if it dies to feed you?” This statement embodies Sheridan’s stance on the issue, one that may ruffle the feathers of strict vegans who believe they are ethically superior to others.
However, Sheridan and Rogan clarify that they have no issue with people who choose to follow a vegan diet for medical reasons. They take issue with those who claim moral superiority based on their eating habits, despite the fact that it still leads to the killing of living organisms. “Every single fish, every frog, they’re eating another organism to survive,” Sheridan argues, highlighting the natural cycle of life and death that occurs in the natural world.
Despite the logical arguments presented by Sheridan and Rogan, the vegan market continues to grow exponentially. Bloomberg Intelligence has predicted that by 2030, 7.7% of the global protein market will come from plant-based foods, with an estimated value of over $162 billion. VegNews also reports that the global vegan fast-food market will reach $28 billion by 2033.
The two men end the discussion on a comical note, with Rogan mentioning a David Attenborough documentary where he saw chimpanzees eating monkeys alive. This example reiterates the fact that nature is not always pretty, and animals do not adhere to a vegan diet. It is human arrogance to believe we should be any different.
Sheridan and Rogan make a compelling case against veganism, highlighting the natural balance of life and death in the ecosystem. They also expose the hypocrisy of claiming moral superiority while ignoring the deaths of countless living organisms for the sake of veganism. Will this message reach the strict vegans who hide behind their vegan kitchens and restaurants? That remains to be seen.