Filmmaker Kevin Smith is doing better than ever after experiencing a heart attack in February, according to his daughter Harley Quinn Smith. The young actress and vegan informed the media that her father’s newfound health is due to his recent commitment to a plant-based diet.
Earlier this week, Harley Quinn spoke to Page Six News at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere for the film “All These Small Moments,” in which she played the leading role. When asked about her father, Harley responded, “He’s doing really great … He’s the healthiest he’s ever been, he’s vegan now, which is amazing.”
She added that during a recent trip to the vegan fast-casual chain Veggie Grill, “he had the vegan nachos and loved them.”
In February, 47-year-old Smith suffered from a heart attack. Soon after, he recounted the frightening experience in a Facebook post, but ended on a positive note, stating “This is all a part of my mythology now and I’m sure I’ll be facing some lifestyle changes (maybe it’s time to go Vegan).”
The following month, the “Dogma” director reported dramatic weight loss after adopting a plant-based diet based on vegan magician Penn Jillette’s book, “Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear.” Multiple sources report that since adopting his new diet, Smith has lost a total of 32 pounds, more than half of the 50 pounds that doctors advised him to lose. Kevin Smith’s heart attack has clearly been a catalyst for change, leading to the director adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Although his daughter has been vegan for two years, Smith said his reasoning for making the switch is purely for its heart health benefits, opposed to a moral or social obligation. He tweeted “This [vegan diet] doesn’t come from a personal philosophy, this comes from an ‘I have to.’ I don’t know if I call myself a vegan, maybe a non-animal eater. The program is so far manageable.”
Both Smith’s daughter and wife, who is vegetarian, have supported him on his new vegan journey. Last year, Smith and Harley Quinn appeared in a video for Farm Sanctuary. The two visited Doomie’s, a Los Angeles fast-food joint, and feasted on plant-based versions of classic diner fare while discussing the ethics behind veganism. Smith was surprised to learn that vegan food could be delicious.
The question of whether or not Kevin Smith’s vegan diet will be permanent remains up in the air, but regarding the change in her father’s food choices, Harley Quinn said,“Now its finally happened and I’m so happy.”
Image Credit: Kevin Smith.
