A shopper who smashed a vegan protester’s megaphone during an Easter demonstration at an Asda store has apologised and given her £60 to replace it.
The incident occurred when Ella Wild was protesting with a small group of anti-meat campaigners inside an Asda store in Canterbury, Kent, on Easter Saturday.
As Wild was speaking through her megaphone about animals being killed for meat, a man approached her, grabbed the device and smashed it to pieces on the floor.
The confrontation was captured on video and shared on Wild’s Instagram page, called ‘Vegan Fairy’.
It has now emerged that the man immediately sought out Wild after completing his shopping to make amends.
Witnesses told the Daily Mail that he approached her with “tears in his eyes” and handed over £60 to replace the equipment.
During this interaction, he explained that his time in Northern Ireland had left him with “a profound case of PTSD”.
The megaphone itself reportedly triggered traumatic memories from his past.
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One witness emphasised that the man was “not acting out of anger or malice” but had experienced a “trigger event he could not control”.
They described him as “a victim of past events, not an angry reactor to the situation of the present”.
Wild was part of a group protesting against the use of animal products during Easter.
The protesters were holding screens showing footage of animal slaughter while Wild spoke through the megaphone.
Footage shows the man wordlessly snatching the device from her mid-sentence, knocking her to the side before throwing it to the floor.
As he walked away, fellow protesters shouted, “Hey, what is wrong with you? You’re an idiot!”
Store staff and security then approached the group to discuss the incident.
Despite the confrontation, Wild later confirmed: “We stayed and continued with our protest to raise awareness for the sentient beings harmed for meat, dairy and eggs.”
The incident sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some criticising the protesters’ approach.
One commenter wrote: “You should have been kicked out the moment you stepped in the store.”
Another said: “Protesting is fine, but shouting and protesting is causing a ruckus to other customers. Do it outside.”
Wild defended the protest, responding: “You pay for it, so you should be fine with seeing it… The animals have to live it.”
Kent Police confirmed they were called to the disturbance at 1:46pm on Saturday.
A spokesperson said: “Officers attended and spoke to those present before the group dispersed. Enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.”
