On a recent Today Show segment on NBC, singer-pop-star Ariana Grande discusses becoming vegan and viewers get a glimpse into her personal feelings regarding her momentous decision. I loved catching this segment because, in my opinion, her singing voice and talent are so outstanding—and her veganism is just part of who she is. But I was a bit surprised and thrilled that the subject of her plant-based eating was brought up as a topic of discussion on the show. I would assume that The Today Show thought that it would be of interest to their viewers to broach the topic—and that is delightful to me and, hopefully, all vegans out there who are tuned in to the lives of celebrity and high-profile vegans.
When she first tweeted her announcement about going vegan over a year ago, her message, “I’ve eaten organically since I was little and always kept meat minimal but today marks my first day as a 100% vegan!!!! Joyous day,” reached a reported over 11 million followers. Sharing her news with such a huge and widespread audience is sure to strengthen her resolve to completely avoid eating animal-based products and stick to her plant-based diet.
Sometimes you have to be BOLD to get your point across and 21-year-old, gorgeous Ariana does not pull any punches, as she is quoted as saying,
“In America, almost everybody thinks you need to have meat for protein. Protein, protein, protein! And what’s in dairy? Calcium, calcium, calcium. It’s those kinds of proteins that latch onto the insides of your blood- stream and make it easier for you to have a heart attack. Look, cows produce milk with nutrients for cows. Maybe that’s why Americans end up looking like cows! Ultimately, no one wants cow tit pus in their food, do they?”
I know that I don’t!
![http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=9IDTvXNwk9A&offerid=349122.44&type=4&subid=0">](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=9IDTvXNwk9A&offerid=349122.44&type=4&subid=0"><IMG alt="Get Free Shipping on all orders of $100 or more at Matt & Nat! (USA and Canada only)" border="0" src="http://www.opmpros.com/host/mattandnat/images/banners/promo3_468x60.jpg"></a><IMG border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=9IDTvXNwk9A&bids=349122.44&type=4&subid=0">)
On the Today Show segment, she sits on the panel with Tamron Hall, Willie Geist and Al Roker, while her Nona (“grandma in Italian”) watches on admiringly. When Ariana is asked what her favorite food is by a young fan, she mentions fruits and vegetables —and then says, matter of factly, that she’s vegan. “Growing up in an Italian American family,” it was a hard transition, while her Nona was pushing meatballs, proscuitto and cheese. Willie Geist, jokingly, couldn’t resist asking, “No chicken parm from Nona?” But Ariana simply declared that she is happy with her decision! I detected a mild-mannered, mocking tone in Willie’s question—not quite poking fun, but with a subtext—and Ariana handled it graciously, maturely and honestly! Bravo!
![http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=9IDTvXNwk9A&offerid=333630.45716&type=4&subid=0">](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=9IDTvXNwk9A&offerid=333630.45716&type=4&subid=0"><IMG alt="" border="0" src="http://offers.affiliatetraction.com/creative_images/155275070115302014092403558_FallSale_Fa14_AffAds_468x60_V2_KA.jpg"></a><IMG border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=9IDTvXNwk9A&bids=333630.45716&type=4&subid=0">)
To see a clip from the Today Show segment, click on the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XupxL4hBsps
The actress of Nickelodeon’s “Sam & Cat” and, previously “Victorious,” is also, not surprisingly, an animal-lover, who misses her dogs (her “babies”) the most while she’s on tour and hopes to be able to bring them next time. After seeing “Blackfish,” Ariana recommended that her fans see the movie and never go to SeaWorld again. This girl speaks her mind!
As talented and outspoken as Ariana Grande is, she wisely recommends to all her fans that they consult with a nutritionist to be “diligent about making sure your body gets all the right nutrients.” That’s that way it’s done right.
Having Ariana Grande, a young adult role model, Nickelodeon star and prolific singer-songwriter, talk about her plant-based lifestyle in a thought-provoking and direct way may make people her age listen to her views and contemplate what they’re eating. Watching the powerful documentary, Forks Over Knives, motivated Ariana to become vegan and anyone who has not seen it yet, really should treat themselves to this life-changing movie!
PETA named Ariana as one of it’s top contenders of 2014 Sexiest Vegetarians, although the winners were Jared Leto and Ellen Page. The competition for the ladies was fierce, as Ariana was up against Carrie Underwood, Kate Mara, Ellie Goulding, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Jessica Pare, Christie Brinkley and Edie Falco and Sarah Silverman. At the young age of 21, she has many years to win that coveted title!
For More…
Vegan American Princess Celebrity Radar
“Ariana Grande Reveals Why She is a Vegan” from Artist Direct
“Ariana Grande Dishes on Being Vegan” from MTV
“Ariana Grande Goes Vegan” from Ecorazzi
“Ariana Grande Went Vegan Because Cow Milk Makes Americans Look Like Cows” from Celebitchy
YouTube Clip from the Today Show
Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2014 as decided by PETA
Vegan American Princess Celebrity Radar
xox Ellen
Kind of strange how this site seems to use “vegetarian” and “vegan” interchangeably. Veganism covers more than just what you eat – unless all the leather she wears is fake, I’m pretty sure she is not a vegan.
Perhaps you have a point Karen. But we like to promote any steps, big or small, to making the world more animal-friendly.
It has become fashionable nowadays for certain slebs to announce that they have gone ‘vegan’, but when they do so it is usually only in dietary terms. Most vegetarians don’t wear leather and no genuine vegans do. So let’s say that these slebs are at best ‘vegan’ from the ankles upwards. When it ceases to be fashionable they’ll just claim that it was a phase they went through.
Hi Paul! I know that many people, not only celebs, call themselves vegan and are really only referring to their diet of plant-based nutrition. The rest of their lifestyle includes using animal-derived products. I can see how this might irritate purists! Some people embark on a journey of veganism and start by “leaning in.” At Vegan American Princess, we believe in supporting any and all attempts at living a more vegan lifestyle. After all, some is better than none and mostly is better than some and all is better than mostly—but it’s all going in the right direction!
It is not a case of being a ‘purist’, it is just that you can sometimes claim that someone is vegan when that person herself (or himself) has never made such a claim. For example a celebrity might ‘tweet’ something about fur, PETA then repeats this on its website, then across discussion boards and the blogosphere, the question is raised as to whether she is a vegan. The question itself is loaded because it is a wish fulfilment on the part of those asking it. So someone becomes a ‘virtual’ vegan without ever having claimed to be a real one. Kat Denning is a good example. Type her name into google with the word ‘vegan’ to follow and see what you get. I’m sure you could try this with others and get similar results.
While I applaud Ariana’s steps in the right direction; one can not call themselves a vegan and wear leather. Being vegan is much more than diet alone (and how about Donutgate?) Veganism is a lifestyle, and belief system. For example: Someone could call themselves a Yogi, but not follow the precept of Ahimsa (non-harm). That person would not be a true Yogi. I hope that she will become a true vegan. The world needs more (real) vegan roll models. I’m keeping my fingers crossed on the case with Ariana.
Hi! It’s true that many people consider being vegan and eating a plant-based diet quite the same thing. Very often one starts off eating plant-based and heads in the vegan direction soon after. We try to approach each baby step with positivity and hope!
Best, Ellen