The Beatles star and animal rights activist makes the comparison with abolition of slave trade as he calls markets "obscene … they might as well be letting off atomic bombs."
Paul McCartney has urged an end to China's wet markets, amid widespread claims they are the source of the coronavirus pandemic.
The former Beatle, who will be 78 in June, called Howard Stern Yesterday from Sussex, to update the Sirius XM radio host on his well-being during the coronavirus pandemic.
During his appearance on the radio show, McCartney discussed China's wet markets, where fresh meat and fish is sold.
The long-time animal rights activist said: "I really hope that this will mean that the Chinese government will say, 'OK, guys, we have really got to get super hygienic around here.'"
"Let's face it, it is a little bit medieval eating bats."
McCartney also discussed the idea of celebrities campaigning for the closure of wet markets.
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He said: "I think it makes a lot of sense . . . when you've got the obscenity of some of the stuff that's going on there and what comes out of it, they might as well be letting off atomic bombs. It's affecting the whole world."
"I understand that part of it is going to be: people have done it for ever, this is the way we do things. But they did slavery forever, too. You've got to change things at some point."
The former Beatle was set to headline Glastonbury in June, before the festival was cancelled due to the outbreak.
He said: "What's disappointing for me is the people who bought tickets, who were looking forward to this and thinking here's something groovy to do in the summer, and suddenly the plug is pulled, and we can't come around and play for them.”
