Is Bryan Adams Still a Vegan? Examining His Decades-Long Plant-Based Lifestyle

December 18, 2025 •

3 min read

For over 35 years, legendary rocker Bryan Adams has followed a plant-based diet, first as a vegetarian at age 28 and later as a complete vegan. But for fans and the curious alike, the question persists: is Bryan Adams still a vegan today, and what motivates his long-term dietary choice?

Quick Summary

Bryan Adams has consistently maintained his vegan diet for decades, citing both ethical animal rights concerns and personal health benefits. The rock musician and outspoken activist remains committed to his plant-based lifestyle in 2025, regularly sharing updates and advocacy efforts on social media.

Key Points

Long-Term Commitment: Bryan Adams has been a dedicated vegan since 1989, making it a cornerstone of his lifestyle for over 35 years.
Ethical Motivation: His journey to veganism was primarily driven by a deep-seated love for animals, first sparked by his empathy for his dogs.
Active Advocate: He is a vocal proponent for animal rights, using his social media and partnering with organizations like PETA to promote a cruelty-free life.
Health Benefits: Adams frequently credits his plant-based diet for maintaining his health, energy, and youthful appearance into his 60s.
Pandemic Controversy: A controversial 2020 Instagram post led to backlash, which he apologized for, clarifying his intent was to promote veganism and rail against animal cruelty.
Consistent Message: Despite the controversy, his core message about animal welfare and the benefits of a plant-based diet remains consistent in his recent communications.

The Vegan Journey of Bryan Adams

The story of Bryan Adams's veganism is not a recent development but a long-standing commitment. He first eliminated meat from his diet around the age of 28, eventually transitioning to a full vegan lifestyle in 1989. In interviews, he has stated that his path to veganism was a gradual awakening prompted by his love for animals, specifically his family dogs. This growing empathy for creatures led him to connect the animal products on his plate with animal cruelty, pushing him toward a fully plant-based existence.

Adams is an active and vocal advocate for animal rights. He has collaborated with organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), using his platform to promote a compassionate lifestyle. His social media channels often feature posts encouraging fans to explore veganism for the sake of the planet, their health, and the animals. Unlike some celebrities who experiment with dietary fads, Adams's commitment appears to be rooted in a deep ethical and philosophical belief system that he has maintained for over a quarter-century.

Bryan Adams's Motivation and Advocacy

Adams's reasons for staying vegan are twofold: a profound dedication to animal welfare and a belief in the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Animal Rights Activism

Long-Term Commitment: His motto, "If you love animals, don't eat them," showcases his dedication.
Active Advocacy: Adams has used his social media to post about animal protection and has partnered with organizations like PETA and Humane World for Animals.
Consistent Message: Through decades, his message has remained unchanged: promoting a cruelty-free lifestyle.

Personal Health and Wellness

Crediting his diet for health: Adams attributes his youthful appearance and good health to his veganism, stating he feels stronger and more energetic.
Rarely getting sick: In interviews, he has credited his plant-based diet with bolstering his immune system, saying he rarely gets sick.
Promoting a plant-based food industry: He's also involved in promoting the plant-based food industry, showing his deep integration into the lifestyle.

Comparing Celebrity Dietary Choices

Bryan Adams's steadfast veganism stands in contrast to some other celebrities whose dietary shifts may be less long-standing or publicly vocal.


Aspect	Bryan Adams (Vegan since 1989)	Other Celebrities (e.g., occasional shifts)
Stance	Firm and outspoken vegan for over 35 years.	May be vegetarian, plant-based, or experiment with veganism for a short period.
Reasoning	Deeply ethical (animal rights) and personal health beliefs.	Often health-centric, weight loss, or short-term experiments for a specific role or event.
Advocacy	A long history of public advocacy, including working with PETA.	Often less vocal, or promoting the lifestyle as a personal preference rather than an ethical stance.
Public History	A well-documented and consistent history of veganism.	Their public dietary habits may fluctuate or be inconsistent over time.
Longevity	Has maintained the diet for decades, suggesting a permanent lifestyle.	The dietary shift may be short-lived, with a return to previous habits.

The 2020 Controversy and Apology

In May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryan Adams posted an expletive-laden Instagram rant blaming “bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards” for the virus. The post was widely condemned by many as racist and anti-Chinese, prompting significant online backlash.

In response to the criticism, Adams issued an apology, stating he was not trying to be racist but wanted to rant about animal cruelty in wet markets and promote veganism. He clarified, “I have love for all people and my thoughts are with everyone dealing with this pandemic around the world”. The incident, while damaging, did not change his pro-vegan stance and served as an example of how his passionate advocacy could be miscommunicated in a sensitive global context.

Conclusion

Based on his decades-long history and his continued public advocacy in 2025, Bryan Adams is still a vegan. His commitment stems from a deeply-rooted ethical belief in animal rights, fortified by his experience of personal health benefits from the lifestyle. Despite a misstep during the COVID-19 pandemic, his message of plant-based living for the animals, for health, and for the planet remains consistent and unwavering. As of late 2025, he continues to promote this lifestyle, proving that for him, veganism was not a fleeting trend but a lasting life choice.

For more insight into his motivations, his interview with PETA offers a candid look into his history with animal rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bryan Adams transitioned to a fully vegan lifestyle in 1989. Before that, he was a vegetarian, having given up meat when he was 28 years old.

Adams was motivated by his love for animals, stating that his family dogs led him to an understanding of animal cruelty. He also advocates for veganism due to its personal health benefits and positive environmental impact.

Yes, Bryan Adams remains an active and vocal animal rights activist. He has worked with organizations like PETA and regularly uses his social media to advocate for veganism and animal welfare.

Bryan Adams is a strong believer in the health benefits of a plant-based diet. He has stated that he feels healthier, has more energy, and rarely gets sick since adopting the lifestyle.

Yes, following widespread criticism, Bryan Adams issued an apology for his controversial May 2020 Instagram post. He stated his intention was to promote veganism and express frustration over animal cruelty in wet markets, not to be racist.

No, there is no evidence to suggest that Bryan Adams has ever wavered from his vegan commitment. All recent reports and social media posts confirm he has maintained his plant-based lifestyle since 1989.

Yes, he frequently uses his social media accounts, such as Instagram, to encourage his fans to try veganism and highlights various aspects of a plant-based life.