Islanders support meaty diner after “trolling”

Tuesday 03 March 2020

Islanders have rallied round a local eatery after it received a raft of abuse on social media from vegan activists.

Followers and customers of 'Meat and Eat' rushed to its rescue after it was targeted by a barrage of critical comments online from those who object to a meat-based diet.

The eatery launched in Liberty Wharf late last year, hoping to bring a "wholesome" menu to the space formerly occupied by a vegan-friendly café.

Since opening, the diner has used Facebook to promote its menu, but backlash came last week when it posted a picture of a hog roast. 

Responding to the barrage of criticism, the owner of the business, who said she had received more than a dozen private messages in addition to negative reviews on her page, posted: “It makes me very sad that I do not push anything on people and don’t tell people what they should or should not eat but people are happy to tell my business and me personally how revolting I am, such a shame.”

This prompted over 350 comments, with many coming from local supporters of the business.

One user wrote: “That’s how people can be sadly, everyone has enough choice in this island to be vegan, vegetarian, super healthy, pescatarians, but why be shamed for loving what most of our ancestors had as their easiest option for food!?” 

Pictured: Some proponents of the vegan lifestyle had attacked the business for posting an image of a hog roast.

Another added: “I am a carnivore married to a vegan, but my good lady wife doesn’t try to enforce her beliefs onto me, to the contrary she will cook meat for me (I do also adore her vegan home cooking).

"My point here being… that we co-exist, neither trying to force any beliefs upon the other, I suggest the same ethic applies here. If you don’t like it, leave it”.

One poster, themselves a vegan, also didn’t condone the actions of the so-called ‘trolls’, writing: “I’m vegan and have been so for over a year now. I find the meat industry disturbing and the environmental impact saddening. However, I do not and will mot align myself with these idiots who attack people for their choice to eat meat.

“If they want to eat meat then they are free to do so, morality is a different subject… Just thought I would say that there are vegans and there [are] vegans, not all of us spit venom just because people eat meat. It’s about education and not condemnation.”

However, despite the wave of support and praise, Meat and Eat announced this afternoon that it was closing for a week "due to the upset" caused by the abuse.

"...We just want it all to calm down and not to read any more negative comments before we open next Monday," the eatery posted on Facebook.

"Thank you to all my customers and friends who have supported me and also had to defend comments they have placed. It is so much appreciated."