Vegan filmmaker Kevin Smith says that his daughter Harley Quinn Smith has “indirectly” saved his life.
The pair, who are attending New York Comic Con, a major fan convention for fans of comics, superhero films, toys, anime, and other nerdy niches of pop culture, recently paid a visit Brooklyn-based vegan restaurant, Champs Diner.
“Dad/Daughter Date at @champsdiner in Brooklyn, complete with Vegan desserts,” Smith wrote in an Instagram post. He accompanied it with a photo of himself and Harley with a spread of “peanut butter bomb” cakes from Pennsylvania-based bakery Vegan Treats and Champs’s signature dairy-free cookie dough sundae.
“I’m in NYC interviewing folks for @imdb at the @newyorkcomicconand @harleyquinnsmith was there interviewing folks for the DC Daily show on @thedcuniverse,” the “Clerks” creator continued. “Our family business is pretty much just talking to our industry betters (although to be fair, Harley was also recently cast in a pretty dope movie). She’s been my role model for my plant-based lifestyle. Had no idea that having a kid would indirectly save my life, but she did.”
While Smith adopted a vegan diet at the beginning of the year following a major heart attack, his daughter Harley has been following a plant-based diet for longer. Last year, she and her father appeared in a video for Farm Sanctuary, a haven for rescued farm animal,s while discussing the ethical motivations for going vegan.
Diner food is apparently a favorite of theirs: during the video, the pair munched on plant-based burgers and mozzarella sticks from Los Angeles-based vegan restaurant, Doomie’s. At the time, Smith was still skeptical of vegan food, but admitted to being surprised by how delicious his meal tasted.
The filmmker’s daughter has been supportive of her father in his journey, which has turned into a complete lifestyle change. Last April, at the premier of the film “All These Small Moments,” which stars Harley, she said: “He’s doing really great … He’s the healthiest he’s ever been, he’s vegan now, which is amazing.”
Smith is not only passionate about vegan food now, particularly the fast-casual restaurant chain Veggie Grill, he has also taken up yoga and developed an appreciation for hiking.
Image Credit: Kevin Smith
