Why did Osher Gunsberg hate vegans?

Osher Gunsberg says he’s a vegan—but can’t stand the word

Osher Gunsberg has said he holds a strong dislike toward vegans as a label, even though he personally follows a plant-based diet. In an interview-style reveal, Gunsberg explained that the issue isn’t with the way people eat so much as with the terminology and how it’s used in conversation.

The key detail is that he identifies with veganism in practice, having followed a plant-based diet since 2002, but he says he “hates vegans” in the way the word functions socially. He also emphasized he would “never use that word,” signaling that he feels the term carries baggage or connotations he finds off-putting.

Why it matters for pop culture

When celebrities talk about diet, it often goes beyond nutrition and into identity politics, community gatekeeping, and the tone of online discourse. Gunsberg’s comments land in that space: they challenge the assumption that someone who lives a plant-based lifestyle must align with the modern “vegan” identity as it’s commonly discussed.

What to watch next

• Expect follow-up discussion about whether this is a critique of the label, the movement, or specific behaviors.
• The contrast between his long-term diet choice and his stated aversion to the word may be a focal point in ongoing media chatter.