For years, Gaz Oakley built an entire career on veganism. As the face of “Avant Garde Vegan,” he became one of the most recognisable plant-based chefs in the world, selling cookbooks, growing a massive YouTube audience and inspiring countless people to rethink their relationship with animals. That is why recent podcast discussions where he explicitly said he is now willing to eat animals such as deer (venison), pigeons and “invasive” crayfish have landed as such a shock to many longtime supporters. He also suggested that single-ingredient tofu is “processed”, which is a fallacy.
Oakley was never just another recipe creator. He was elevated by the vegan community as proof that compassionate eating could be exciting, athletic, creative and mainstream. Vegan supporters bought his books, shared his content and defended him against critics because they believed he genuinely stood for animal liberation.
In the past, Oakley spoke passionately about why he abandoned animal products altogether. In a profile published by Viva!, he said: “no longer would I be part of the cruelty towards animals again.” That statement was powerful precisely because it sounded absolute. It framed veganism not as a temporary diet, but as a moral line he would not cross.
The backlash online has been fierce, with many former supporters accusing Oakley of abandoning the ethical principles that made him famous. One Reddit user wrote: “How the fuck can you live with yourself or look anyone in the eye after you’ve understood the suffering, put an end to your contribution to it and then decided ‘Actually no, I’m ok with that’.” Another described him as “a narcissistic grifter,” while a third claimed: “The ‘Plant based influencer profiting from the vegan community to turning their back on veganism once their profile and platform has built up’ pipeline strikes again.” The reaction reflects a growing sense among parts of the vegan community that Oakley’s shift toward hunting and “natural food” rhetoric is not just disappointing, but a complete rejection of the values he once publicly championed.
His rise was meteoric. Viva! described him as “a leading figure in the vegan movement,” while podcasts and media outlets repeatedly celebrated him as a “plant-based champion.” His books, including Vegan 100 and Plants-Only Kitchen, became staples in vegan households. He wasn’t simply benefiting from veganism commercially; he was actively shaping the culture around it.
That is why this apparent pivot feels, to many vegans, like a betrayal rather than a personal dietary change.
The justification reportedly revolves around ideas of sustainability, foraging and controlling invasive species. Oakley has increasingly moved toward homesteading and “reconnecting with the land,” speaking in recent interviews about self-sufficiency, permaculture and living closer to nature. But for many ethical vegans, killing animals because they are considered overpopulated or invasive still fundamentally contradicts the values he once promoted.
The issue is not simply whether Gaz Oakley eats venison or crayfish. The issue is that millions of people were encouraged to trust him as a voice for animals. Veganism, at its core, asks people to reject the idea that animal lives are expendable when convenience, taste or environmental arguments arise.
For supporters who helped build his platform, this shift feels less like evolution and more like abandonment. The animals he once defended are now apparently back on the menu, and many in the vegan community are left wondering whether the movement that made Gaz Oakley famous was ultimately just another phase in his personal brand.