Vegan YouTube star, 30, is forced to quit ‘ethical’ clothing company he founded after he confesses to eating raw eggs and salmon
- A vegan YouTube star admitted to eating raw eggs and raw salmon in a video
- Tim Shieff said he had abandoned a plant-based diet in order to boost his health
- Mr Shieff’s confession prompted a fierce online backlash from militant vegans
- The vegan clothing company he founded, ETHCS, have now dropped him
A vegan YouTube star has been forced out of the ‘ethical’ clothing company he founded after he confessed to eating raw eggs and salmon.
Tim Shieff, a vegan campaigner and world champion free-runner, released an emotional YouTube video last November in which he admitted abandoning his plant-based diet because he was ‘desperate’ to boost his health.
Mr Shieff, 30, told how he visited a local farm after completing a ‘35-day water fast’, in which he consumed only distilled water.
Six years ago Tim Shieff, whose YouTube channel has more than 180,000 subscribers, became a vegan and he has used his online platform to promote veganism and extreme fasting and diets
Seeing chickens ‘running around, completely free’, he bought two eggs and ate them raw. ‘It sent me questioning everything,’ he said. ‘A few days later I bought some wild salmon and tried that.’
His confession prompted a fierce online backlash from militant vegans and an apology for his behaviour from his colleagues at ETHCS, the vegan clothing company he founded three years ago.
They said they were ‘hurt and let down’ by his admission but insisted it was their ‘duty to build Tim up again’.
Mr Shieff initially said he was returning to veganism but earlier this month he released further videos in which he disclosed that he has completely abandoned a plant-based diet.
This prompted ETHCS, whose name is purposely misspelt because it says there is no ‘i’ in ethics, to drop him.
The company told a vegan news website: ‘For a long time Tim had been an inspirational example for veganism, as well as a good friend who has inspired us all, but this lifestyle change was something none of us could get on board with.
‘We have all been proud vegans for many years, and promoting the vegan message and ethical lifestyle choices was very important to us all.
Shieff released an emotional YouTube video last November in which he admitted abandoning his plant-based diet because he was ‘desperate’ to boost his health. His confession prompted a fierce online backlash from militant vegans
‘Considering ETHCS was founded on these same principles, we all agreed it would be best if Tim stepped away from the company. And in time Tim agreed too.’
Mr Shieff from Littleover, near Derby, has twice won Ninja Warrior, an ITV assault course game show, and has built up a huge online following by posting daredevil ‘freerunning’ videos of leaps and handstands on top of tall buildings.
Six years ago Mr Shieff, whose YouTube channel has more than 180,000 subscribers, became a vegan and he has used his online platform to promote veganism and extreme fasting and diets, including drinking urine. He has drunk his own each day for two years.
He has previously said that going vegan takes ‘real bravery’. He told The Mail on Sunday that his departure from the company was a ‘mutual decision’.
‘I founded the company as a very passionate vegan. I have listened to my body and it’s guided me on another path for now and my beliefs have changed. My friends who I built the business with are all vegan and remain vegan, so they were shocked by it.’