Steve-O’s Slippery Slope

Two years ago, just after the release of my first book, The Skeptical Vegan, I met up with Steve-O at Strong Hearts Cafe in Syracuse, New York for lunch. He was performing that night and our whole family drove up to grab some amazing vegan grub, spend some time with Steve, and catch up on what’s been happening in his life since we last saw him in Washington, DC the year before.

Full disclosure: Steve went to high school with my wife.

We ordered and waited for our lunch and started talking about being vegan. At this point, Steve was vegan. Again. Having had a setback a year or so before that he described as a “slippery slope.” Steve went back to eating fish; making the same “it’s farm-raised salmon” and “the protein felt good” arguments many make when re-introducing seafood into their diets.

How did Steve get there and why is he, today, once again defending himself to vegans about essentially being a pescatarian now?

To hear him tell it, Steve was on an Air Canada flight and ordered a virgin Bloody Mary; his usual drink of choice on airplanes/while traveling. In case you don’t know, Steve has been sober for over ten years and a virgin Bloody Mary is a nice “mocktail” that also happens to appeal to vegans (since it’s primarily tomato juice with a stalk of celery).

Steve ordered his drink. Finished it. Ordered another (I’m guessing). Finished that one. It was after two drinks that Steve finally asked the steward to see the ingredients in the tomato juice: clams.

Apparently, tomato juice on Canadian flights is actually clamato juice. Steve felt awful and stopped drinking the Bloody Marys for the rest of the flight; meanwhile knowing that he inadvertently re-introduced an “animal” to his diet (I put “animal” in quotes since mollusks are sometimes in that grey area for some vegans).

Getting back to Los Angeles, Steve found himself at an event (I am assuming) where they were serving shrimp cocktail (or some shrimp dish) and he thought to himself, “I’ve already had clams I don’t see how having some shrimp could hurt.” I paraphrased that last quote.

And so began the slippery slope.

To hear Steve tell it at the time, the clams soon led to the shrimp which led to the salmon and he could justify what he was doing since it was a progression and eating “farm raised” fish was a ethical as he needed to be at the time (and he felt “better” eating that protein source).

Steve then woke up. Again. He realized how his actions were affecting the lives of sentient animals and stopped. Steve went back to 100% vegan.

Steve wrote of my book (his quote is on the cover):

Refreshingly aware of how vegans are often difficult to be around, Lindstrom has found the perfect balance between fanatical and reasonable, serious and fun. When you decide it’s time to stop participating in mass cruelty and cultivating avoidable diseases, it’s a great idea to read this book.

Today, Steve is perhaps (IMO) on one side, or another, of that slope again and being judged harshly by vegans across social media. Now, without excusing Steve for his choices, I will say that he has been an outspoken voice for the animals and has stood up when others haven’t dared. He has protested against SeaWorld, rescued stray animals in need, is starting his own farm sanctuary, and has been a spokesperson for countless animal rights organizations. While Steve may not be perfect, I know in my heart the animals appreciate him.

And so do I.