Waitrose magazine editor quits over ‘killing vegans’ comment
William Sitwell joked to a freelancer about murdering vegans and force-feeding them meat and red wine
William Sitwell has resigned as editor of Waitrose’s food magazine with immediate effect after proposing an article about killing vegans.
The writer and food critic, who has also appeared as a judge on Masterchef, was responding to an email from freelance journalist Selene Nelson, who pitched him a series of vegan recipes.
In his reply, first reported by Buzzfeed, Sitwell wrote: “How about a series on killing vegans, one by one. Ways to trap them? How to interrogate them properly? Expose their hypocrisy? Force-feed them meat? Make them eat steak and drink red wine?”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Nelson said she had “never seen anything like it” from an editor. “If William Sitwell wants to continue eating meat and hating vegans, that’s his prerogative, but to have this attitude towards others when he’s representing Waitrose is seriously bizarre,” she told the website.
Sitwell has since apologised and described his email as a joke made in haste, The Times reports. “I apologise profusely to anyone who has been offended or upset by this,” the former editor said.
In a statement, Waitrose said it was the “right and proper move” for Sitwell to stand down.
Times restaurant critic and columnist Giles Coran said he had “great sympathy” for Sitwell.
“Vegans are not a race or a gender or a sexual orientation or a differently abled group,” he tweeted. “They just choose to eat plants. You should be able to take the piss and not lose your job.”
But author and historian Greg Jenner agreed it was the right decision. “I am a fierce defender of jokes, but jokes have to be expected - they rely on context,” he said. “This was a bizarre response to a professional pitch from a food journalist who expected a professional response.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Free app access for The Week’s subscribers during Royal Mail strikes
Speed Read If you have a subscription to The Week magazine you can read the digital edition on your tablet or phone
By The Week Staff Published
-
Comic Relief to end ‘white saviour’ celebrity trips to Africa
Speed Read Charity’s appeal videos described by critics as ‘poverty porn’ and ‘devoid of dignity’
By Chas Newkey-Burden Last updated
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to star in ‘fly-on-the-wall’ Netflix reality show
Speed Read Former minister accuses couple of ‘exploiting’ royal links with big-bucks deal
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
Royal officials to ‘scrutinise’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s $150m Netflix deal
Speed Read Duke and Duchess of Sussex have inked agreement to produce documentaries and films for the streaming service
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pitch mystery project idea to Hollywood
Speed Read The Sussex royals have been shopping their concept around tinseltown since June
By Aaron Drapkin Published
-
Meghan Markle ‘furious’ over Palace’s failure to defend her ‘against true stories’
Speed Read Legal documents say she felt unprotected by the royal ‘institution’ - but insiders claim press team were powerless
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Ronan Farrow: is Harvey Weinstein’s arch-enemy ‘too good to be true’?
Speed Read Pulitzer-winning #MeToo journalist rejects New York Times columnist’s allegations of ‘shakiness’ in his work
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
How coronavirus could shape the news
Speed Read Trust in journalists is down as newspapers face funding crisis that could reshape media landscape forever
By Elliott Goat Last updated