Waitrose magazine vegan row editor resigns
The editor of the Waitrose Food magazine has resigned with immediate effect after an email he sent suggesting a series on killing vegans was leaked.
William Sitwell is standing down with immediate effect after his response to a pitch from freelance journalist Selene Nelson generated a storm of controversy after it was published online.
Sitwell responded to a pitch from Nelson suggesting a vegan series by writing: "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?"
Waitrose said: "William's email absolutely doesn't represent our views about vegans and vegan food."
Sitwell apologised saying the email had been an “ill judged joke” and highlighting a recent Waitrose Food issues that focused on vegetables.
Twitter users were split on his resignation with some arguing it attacked freedom of speech and others arguing that following a perceived attack on potential Waitrose customers his position was untenable.
https://twitter.com/gilescoren/status/1057604008213385217
William Sitwell is one of the most talented magazine editors of his generation. This sad moment which reflects poorly on modern society will be some other publication’s gain
— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) October 31, 2018
William Sitwell has resigned from Waitrose magazine for his ‘vegan murder’ email. I am a fierce defender of jokes, but jokes have to be expected – they rely on context. This was a bizarre response to a professional pitch from a food journalist who expected a professional response
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) October 31, 2018