Brian May
Brian May is best known as the big-haired guitarist for legendary rock band Queen. He is also an astrophysicist, although abandoned his PhD after two years to pursue his musical career.
In recent years, May has become heavily involved in the animal rights movement, especially campaigning to protect badgers against the cruel and unjustified badger cull. He formed the campaigning group Save Me focusing on protecting wild animals (foxes and badgers) from persecution.
Although May had been fighting for animals for years, he didn’t actually go vegan until January 2020, when he took part in Veganuary as an experiment.1Reilly, N. 2020. Brian May backs widespread veganism after coronavirus crisis: “Eating animals has brought us to our knees”. NME. Available: https://www.nme.com/news/music/brian-may-backs-widespread-veganism-after-coronavirus-eating-animals-has-brought-us-to-our-knees-2646320 [Accessed 8 September 2021]. Since the coronavirus pandemic, May has been advocating for veganism as a way for humans to exist in more harmony with the planet and its ecosystems.
“… we’ve seen more of the effects of how eating animals has brought us to our knees as a species, I think it’s time to re-examine our world in a way that doesn’t abuse other species. Whether we will see that happen, I don’t know, but I think I will start to be a bit more preachy about veganism because to me it is the way forward, in so many ways.”1Reilly, N. 2020. Brian May backs widespread veganism after coronavirus crisis: “Eating animals has brought us to our knees”. NME. Available: https://www.nme.com/news/music/brian-may-backs-widespread-veganism-after-coronavirus-eating-animals-has-brought-us-to-our-knees-2646320 [Accessed 8 September 2021].
