On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video captured two men taunting vegan protesters by eating KFC in front of them.
In Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD), two men made headlines after crashing a pro-vegan rally.
Their controversial act involved eating a KFC Zinger Box in front of vegan protesters for a TikTok video.
The video quickly went viral, igniting a debate about freedom of expression and respect for differing views.
Two men taunt vegan protesters with KFC in Melbourne
On social media, Nick and Bill, who have over 85,000 followers on TikTok, filmed themselves eating fried chicken as they stood alongside a group of vegan activists.
The footage, with text reading “Eating a Zinger Box in front of vegan protesters,” shows the duo enjoying their meal as they interact with the activists.
Bill, with long blonde hair, held up a piece of chicken and jokingly offered it to a protester, who declined.
Bill responded with, “Better luck next time,” before biting into the chicken.
The activists’ response to the disruption
The vegan protester calmly responded, “I answered your question didn’t I? I said no.” Despite the taunting, the activist expressed appreciation for the spectacle.
He stated, “I actually really appreciate these guys being here; it’s creating a spectacle for others.”
This sentiment was echoed by another protester, who shared why she adopted a plant-based lifestyle while the TikTokers continued eating their burgers.
The video quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media
Nick and Bill captioned the TikTok video with “Not all superheroes have capes,” adding the hashtags “anti-vegan” and “vegan teacher.”
The video quickly gained traction, and sparked denate among viewers,
In the comment section, many viewers supported the duo’s actions. They argued that since vegan activists are often vocal about their beliefs, it is fair for others to counter with opposing views.
One person said: Protesters expressing their right to their beliefs, just like these guys expressing their right to consume KFC in a public mall. Benefits of having different opinions.
A second wrote: Awesome work guys. Next time slaughter a beast in their presence
While a third commented: The ones that do it because they need to for medical reasons, I respect. The ones who do it because they feel they are better than me, I ignore. I don’t care what you eat.
Another added: Well now they know how it feels when they gate crash people dining out , good onya guys.
Someone else said: If they’re pushing their ideas on us, we can push our ideas on them.
Opposing views: Was it disrespectful?
Despite the large number of supporters, many felt the act was disrespectful. Some commented that it wasn’t about the vegan debate but about showing respect for others’ beliefs.
One person wrote’: This isn’t funny or cool, I’m not even vegan, but it’s about respecting others.
Another commented: They’re not disrupting anyone, but why go out of your way to eat in their face and film it?
While some see it as a playful challenge to the promotion of veganism, others believe it crosses the line into disrespect.
Whether or not the act was justified, it has certainly generated significant conversation about freedom of expression and how we engage with people who hold differing views.