Jeffree Star, a YouTuber, beauty entrepreneur, and now self-proclaimed rancher, has been engaged in a dispute over selling yak meat since Memorial Day weekend, which has resulted in a lot of back and forth online. On Monday, June 6, Star addressed claims that he was slaughtering his dogs for his prospective yak meat venture in a new YouTube video titled The TRUTH About the Star Yak Ranch. Netizens had previously called him out for an alleged ‘conflict of interests,’ considering that his cosmetics line Jeffree Star Costemics was vegan and cruelty-free.
Is Jeffree Star slaughtering his Pets for his yak meat business?
The cosmetics entrepreneur traveled to Casper, Wyoming in December 2020, leaving behind his lavish city lifestyle in Los Angeles for some ‘peace and quiet.’ Since then, the YouTuber has established himself in the agricultural profession, caring for his own yak ranch, Star Yak Ranch. In May, the company stated that it will begin selling packaged yak meat in the form of minced meat, jerky, and steaks. The statement sparked widespread outrage since many people feared Jeffree Star would be butchering his dogs, which he had previously shown off on Instagram.
In response to the criticism, Star said in his video:
“People are completely insane. I don’t believe city people understand farming. When I announced that I was going to sell meat, I caused quite a stir. People assumed it was all of my pets that I’d been spending the previous year and a half with. Sorry! They’re all right here.”
While Jeffree Star had previously replied to the outcry on Twitter, he did not specifically state that the yaks being raised for food were not his pets. Star commented on how the majority of Americans were still uninformed of the provenance of the meat they ingested, saying:
“I had no idea people were so ignorant about farming, where meat comes from, or even the tradition of hunting and producing food for your family. It’s a whole new universe. And having lived in Wyoming, I’ve certainly learnt the Wyoming way. Some may find it amusing, while others may be disturbed that I am raising yaks for breeding, pets, and, yes, food.”
He added that his interest in yak meat peaked when he discovered it was the “leanest, healthiest red meat in America.”
I see no conflict. I chose to create a cosmetics line that doesn’t torture and test on animals. We all know I’ve never claimed to be vegan, it’s about evolving in the beauty industry & moving past the old ways https://t.co/KDaI9CftMU
— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) May 28, 2022
Jeffree Star was also accused of planning Star Yak Ranch with the goal of selling yak meat from the start. Many people felt duped because he spoke falsehoods and put on a show about caring for his dogs. Star replied to the charges by saying:
“There was never any intention of raising yaks for meat in the beginning. Some individuals can’t understand it and want to accuse me of lying. Girl, I’ve been living in heaven. When I heard more about the animal, I thought, ‘Oh, I want to try doing something like that.'”
The YouTuber also said that his vegan and cruelty-free beauty business had “nothing to do” with his yak ranch and was a “completely distinct company.”
At the conclusion of his video’s yak meat part, Jeffree Star pointed to the yaks being grown for food, saying:
“All of the yaks I’m raising for food are in a rear pasture. Yes, they are still loved and cared for, and they are eating well. Obviously, they’re all grass-fed. But I don’t name them, I don’t halter train them, and I don’t spend hours with them. And we don’t have titles for our meals on my ranch.”
After leaving LA, he remarked that orienting oneself to the “Wyoming way” and learning how to become a “genuine rancher” was an incredible experience for him.
