TikTok has banned a vegan activist after more than 20,000 people signed a petition to remove her from the social media platform.
Kadie Karen Diekmeyer, better known as 'That Vegan Teacher', amassed an audience of over 1.7 million followers before she was banned for "violating community guidelines".
Branding the animal rights activist's content "morally and ethically repugnant", the Change.org petition urged the popular video-sharing app to take down her account.
It goes on to claim that Diekmeyer has made "blatantly racist, bigoted, discriminatory statements" in her content.
It adds: "Her targets have included minors under 18, the LGBTQ+ Community, [people] with disabilities, people of the black community, various religions and more."
Now, Diekmeyer is hitting back against the criticism in the wake of the TikTok ban.
In a YouTube video titled "Censorship: Why Good People Must Rise Up And Speak Out", the former TikToker denied making bigoted comments and claimed that she herself was the victim of bigots - or "veganphobes".
Check out her response here:In the video, which was posted on February 23, she said: "Many of you woke up this morning and found out that my account was banned on TikTok, and I know many of you are jumping for joy and thinking that this is a great victory
"Somehow, it makes you smile to know that an animal rights activist is being silenced on one of the platforms.
"Why is that? Why does that bring you joy? I know why - because you're feeling guilty. You know you shouldn't be eating animals, you know you shouldn't be paying to exploit them, and you cannot look in the mirror and see that in you.
"You're suffering from cognitive dissonance; you think you're a good person, but on the other hand, you pay people to rape, torture, and murder these innocent animals, who never did one single thing wrong to you."
Diekmeyer went on to deny the claims made by the petition, saying that she had never forced anyone to go plant-based, caused anyone to be sick, or discriminated against other people.
She said: "I have repeatedly stated that the LGBTQ community, and everyone, regardless of skin color, age, social status or religion should be given equal rights, protected, cherished and loved.
"I also stated that members of all minority groups should tap into their own oppression and use that to help them understand the oppression that the animals live each and every moment in factory farms."
In the description of the YouTube video, Diekmeyer even talked about the "veganphobia" she has endured.
She says she has experienced everything from having body parts of animals placed on her front steps to having almost had her dog stolen from her.
Diekmeyer wrote: "Veganphobia is real. It is wrong and it is dangerous. My home has been attacked by people who left dead animal body parts on my front steps. Eggs were thrown over my fence. Death threats were uttered.
"Groups of people tried to steal my dog, Bella. Individuals have doxed my address and phone number. People have come pounding on my door in the middle of the night, terrifying my 80-year old mother-in-law who lives with us."
