Vegans are urging Channel 4 to apologise after the broadcaster uploaded a now-deleted post mocking people who take part in Veganuary.
In a post uploaded to Instagram, Channel 4 put up a picture of Countdown with the words “u asswipe” and the caption “when your friends say they’re doing Veganuary”.
The post from Sunday night has since been deleted, but the organisers of Veganuary are urging the broadcaster to apologise.
Veganuary has grown in popularity over the past few years, with 165,000 people signing up for the challenge to try a vegan diet for the month of January.
In a post uploaded to Facebook, the charity Veganuary said: “Apparently Channel 4 – the broadcaster that supposedly champions unheard voices, inspires change and stands up for diversity – thinks it’s cool to insult the 165k people who are doing Veganuary.
“People take part in Veganuary for loads of reasons – to improve their health, to protect animals, or to help the environment. All pretty good things, in our book, and we’re surprised Channel 4 disagrees. Many people are vegan because of sincerely held beliefs about not causing cruelty – something that’s a protected characteristic under the 2010 Equality Act. We hope Channel 4 didn’t mean to discriminate – why not tell Channel 4 why you’re vegan and ask them to apologise?”
Although Channel 4 has deleted the image, vegans have taken to commenting on other Instagram posts uploaded by the broadcaster to share their disgust.
Sad to see @Channel4 post this on their @instagram This is offensive and discriminatory. Many people choose #Vegan for health reasons as well as moral and religious purposes. Ch4 claim to support minorities and diversity but this is a huge fail.#Veganuarypic.twitter.com/xpc3lzcs5P— Jon Donnis ??????? (@JonDonnis) January 21, 2018
@mahonalex very disappointed to see that @Channel4 has taken to making grossly offensive comments against the vegan community and those who want to create less suffering in the world. Is this the direction you will be taking the Channel? Very sad if so. pic.twitter.com/jBew39Legl— Lizzi Shaw (@Lizzi_Shaw) January 21, 2018