Benatar is vegan, and has taken part in debates on veganism.[17] He has argued that humans are "responsible for the suffering and deaths of billions of other humans and non-human animals. If that level of destruction were caused by another species we would rapidly recommend that new members of that species not be brought into existence."[18][19] He has also argued that the outbreak of zoonotic diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,[20] is often the result of how humans mistreat animals.[21]