Outrage after man eats KFC chicken inside vegetarian Iskcon restaurant

HINDU religious leaders have slammed a British man for eating KFC chicken at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) vegetarian restaurant in London, and filming the incident, which went viral on social media.

In the video, the man entered Govinda's Restaurant and asked staff at the counter if it was a vegan restaurant. They told him it was a vegetarian restaurant and they did not serve meat, onion, and garlic.

The man then asked the woman if she was sure, and took out a barrel of KFC, which he placed on the counter. He ate a piece of chicken and offered it to the woman, who was serving at the counter.

With a look of horror, the woman said: “Oh my God, go outside, please."

The staff called for security, who told the man: “It is a vegetarian shop. You cannot eat it here. Get out."

The man then asked the woman serving, if she wanted some, and extended the chicken to her.

With the chicken hanging out of his mouth, he walked around the restaurant asking customers if they “want some chicken”.

A disgruntled customer told the man: “Excuse me, you are actually violating someone's religious rights and this is not fair." 

The man put his hand in the air and screamed: “Free the chicken,” before the video ended.

Iskcon SA submitted a statement issued by Iskcon London president, Dayal Mora Dasa. 

He said the “insufficient spiritual content in the education sector” was leading to poor morals in society.

“The International Society for Krishna Consciousness was established by His Divine Grace AC  Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as a bold attempt to mitigate the sufferings of humanity and bring genuine peace and happiness into this world.

“In this mood, Prabhupada established temple communities in many major world cities, often in some of the most degraded and dilapidated areas because that is where the people needed his message the most. 

“Soho Street (where Govinda’s Restaurant is situated) was and still is a red light district in London and unmentionable deplorable acts are unfortunately visible.

“The religious leaders and government heads have as yet failed to come up with a solution for the degradation of society, particularly amongst the youth.

“Due to insufficient spiritual content in their education and poor role models in society, young people are now deriving happiness from other people’s misery. It has become a social media phenomenon,” he said. 

Dasa said the incident at the restaurant was not isolated. 

“The incident at Govinda’s Restaurant was one of the countless incidents which take place daily all over the country in all kinds of places such as restaurants, shops, on the street, or even in people’s homes. All of this is filmed and posted on social media for the morbid enjoyment of the viewers and followers.

“If the truth of the Gita could be taught at the schools and universities, then such wanton acts of aggression against innocent persons would cease.

“Every child should know that we are not these temporary material bodies and minds, rather we are eternal spirit souls and servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. Since all living beings are spiritual sparks originating in the Supreme source, then all life is sacred and to be respected.

“How can kindness and compassion develop in the heart of one who feasts upon the corpses of helpless innocent animals? It is only a bully who uses his strength and size to intimidate those who are weaker,” added Dasa.

He said Iskcon forgave the creator of the video.

“We forgive and sincerely pray for the perpetrators of this undignified act, who due to ignorance are probably unaware or simply do not care about the pain they are causing by making such childish videos.

“May they awaken to the divine consciousness of seeing all living beings as equal on the spiritual platform, to no longer judge and act based upon superficial considerations, to grow and to appreciate the beauty of culture, tradition, moral values and the truth of scripture, and to understand that the real peace formula is in loving devotion to the Supreme." 

Pundit Lokesh Maharajh, chairperson of the Priest's Council of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS), said: “The incident is highly disrespectful and culturally insensitive. For many Hindus, especially within the Hare Krishna tradition, such vegetarian restaurants are more than just places to eat. They are sacred spaces, closely connected to their temples and spiritual practices. 

"Bringing meat into that environment is not just breaking a house rule; it is seen as deeply offensive and a violation of the spiritual atmosphere.

“The sabha has often stressed the importance of respecting the beliefs and customs of all religious groups. In this case, deliberately eating meat in a space where vegetarianism is not only a rule but a spiritual principle could be seen as either a provocative act or a sign of ignorance,” he added.

Maharaj said the man in the video should be held accountable.

“When someone shows clear disrespect for spiritual and cultural values in a sacred space like a religious restaurant or temple, they should be held accountable. Our response should be to ask the person to issue a public apology or do something that helps him understand the values he has offended. This approach helps build awareness and prevents further disrespect in the future.

“Accountability should not be based on a person’s race, religion, or background. Everyone should be treated equally when it comes to respecting sacred values. Disrespect is unacceptable no matter who it comes from, and fairness must guide how we respond. We encourage people to stand up for their sacred values,” he added.

Viresh Panday, founder of Food for Love Africa, a charity organisation that feeds over 15 000 cooked vegetarian meals daily to children of all cultures, said he was shocked by the video.

“The individual's actions were premeditated, inciting and totally offensive. Him walking around and offering people his meat dish is not the behaviour of a customer so he was looking to cause some trouble and get some attention. 

“I have walked into many food places and if the menu was not suitable you would politely walk out. It is all about respect and consideration. Guess he missed those lessons growing up,” Panday said.

Dr Rajendran Govender, commissioner of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission, said: “From an anthropological standpoint, sacred spaces, be they temples, cultural institutions, or spiritual eateries, are not just venues of activity; they are carriers of identity, belief, and centuries of tradition. When someone enters such a space, they are stepping into a community’s living heritage. 

“To deliberately contravene its norms, such as bringing meat into a vegetarian spiritual restaurant, is not simply an act of personal choice. It can be perceived as a symbolic act of disregard or provocation." 

Govender said whether or not the video constituted religious intolerance depended on intent, but the effect could not be ignored. 

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