Joey Carbstrong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Joseph Dominic Armstrong (1988-11-26)November 26, 1988 (age 36) |
| Occupation | Animal rights activist |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Subscribers | 174 thousand |
| Views | 45 million |
| Last updated: October 2025 | |
| Website | www |
Joseph Dominic Armstrong (born 26 November 1988[1]), known professionally asJoey Carbstrong, is an Australiananimal rights activist, based in theUnited Kingdom. A former criminal,[2] he has since become an advocate foranimal liberation andveganism through social media and public speaking engagements, as well as debates and various televised interviews. Carbstrong also does investigative work in animal rights, having investigated slaughter houses. He has campaigned against theRSPCA Assured scheme and has released undercover footage ofanimal cruelty on their farms.[3][4]
Carbstrong was born Joseph Dominic Armstrong inAdelaide,South Australia.[2] He has publicly stated that before his fame he was involved in substance abuse and crime.[2] He became avegan after his release from incarceration.[2] He has a tattoo of the word "Vegan" behind his right ear.[5]
At the age of 14, he had left school and developed a heavydrug addiction.[2] He had variousblue-collar jobs before receivingwelfare at age 22. By this point he had gained a lengthy criminal record which included three assaults.[2] He spent 18 months under house arrest. He was arrested in September 2011 after police discovered a concealed, loaded shotgun which Armstrong was bringing to a drug deal. Multiple weapons and additional ammunition in his hotel room were also discovered and he spent six months in jail. While in jail, he claimed to have had anepiphany and decided to change his life, saying, "I began seeing my life with new eyes. I'd seen all the other prisoners in there and didn't want to be there, I wanted to leave the gangs."[2][6] In May 2021, he released a video to celebrate eight years of sobriety.[7]
Carbstrong has been involved in animal rights street activism in Australia, Hong Kong,[8] and the United Kingdom, promoting groups such asAnonymous for the Voiceless and the Save Movement, an organisation that holds vigils outsideslaughterhouses and promotes veganism by sharing images and footage from farms and slaughterhouses on social media.[9][10]
In May 2023, Carbstrong is alleged to have published pictures taken from hidden cameras at aPilgrim's Pride abattoir inAshton-under-Lyne depicting the "utterly inhumane" nature of using carbon dioxide tostun pigs before being killed.[11] Carbstrong captured the undercover footage for his documentary Pignorant.[11]
Carbstrong has released undercover footage of animal cruelty atRSPCA Assured farms.[3][4] Footage showed workers hitting cows with implements on long poles and kicking them. In September 2024, Carbstrong commented that "our latest investigation exposes the facade behind the RSPCA's Assured label, which is meaningless in protecting animals".[3]
In 2025, undercover footage of animal cruelty at T&S Abattoir inArley, Warwickshire was released.[12] Carbstrong had installed secret cameras at the halal slaughterhouse in July 2024 and obtained over 200 hours of footage.[12] The footage showed animals being dismembered and having their throats cut whilst still showing signs of consciousness. TheFood Standards Agency andWarwickshire Police launched an investigation into the claims of animal cruelty.[12]
In October 2025, undercover footage of animal cruelty was released at Trevear Farm nearPenzance and Polshea Farm nearBodmin.[13][14] The footage that was taken by Carbstrong and his team between September and October 2022 showed farmers hitting cows and sticking them with sharp objects to make them compliant.[14] Both farms supply milk through Davidstow Creamery toSaputo Dairy UK, who produce the cheese brandCathedral City. Saputo Dairy UK has launched an investigation and suspended milk collection at Polshear Farm.[13]
In January 2018, he began a 'Vegan Prophecy UK tour', which involved protesting against multiple slaughterhouses.[2]
In 2018, Carbstrong appeared on the British TV programmeThis Morning to debate two farmers.[15] During the heated discussion, Carbstrong describedartificial insemination ofcows as a form ofsexual abuse and said thedairy industry "sexually violates" cows.[15] On theJeremy Vine Show, Carbstrong criticised the hostVine's ham and cheese sandwich.[16][17]In 2020, he appeared inVeganville onBBC Three.[18][19]
In April 2024, Carbstrong and six other vegan activists were arrested after they occupied an elevated area atCranswick Country Foods inWatton.[20] Carbstrong has stated that he wanted to raise awareness about the unethical use of gas chambers to slaughter pigs.[20][21][22]
