The editor of Waitrose Food magazine, William Sitwell, has resigned after he made controversial remarks about vegans.
Sitwell, who had held the role for almost 20 years, had responded to a freelance pitch to the publication on plant-based recipes.
His response was to make a joke about 'killing vegans' and 'exposing his hypocrisy', and also forcing them to eat steak.
Selene Nelson, who was the journalist who pitched the idea to Sitwell, shared his response via Twitter, after the story was first reported by BuzzFeed.
Following the article on @BuzzFeed – and in the interests of transparency – here's my original pitch to the editor… https://t.co/LTv89Nn9bW— Selene Nelson (@Selene Nelson) 1540842682
A spokesperson from the supermarket informed The Independentthat Sitwell had stepped down from the position.
We have been informed by John Brown Media, who produce the Waitrose & Partners Food Magazine, that William Sitwell is stepping down as Editor of Waitrose & Partners Food magazine with immediate effect.
In the light of William's recent email remarks, we've told John Brown Media that we believe this is the right and proper move - we will be working with them to appoint a new editor for the magazine.
We have had a relationship with William for almost 20 years and are grateful for his contribution to our business over that time.
At the time Sitwell, who has appeared as a critic on Masterchef,did offer an apology for the email, saying:
I love and respect people of all appetites be they vegan, vegetarian or meat eaters, which I show week in week out through my writing, editing and broadcasting.
I apologise profusely to anyone who has been offended or upset by this.
The story has become something of a major talking point on social media in the past few days and there is a range of opinions on the issue.
Firstly there are the people who aren't happy with Sitwell, especially as Waitrose had just launched a new vegan range.
ideally the takeaway from the waitrose thing would be more 'don't be an unprofessional arsehole bully' than 'u can'… https://t.co/7TSfzwTZJG— Ed Jefferson (@Ed Jefferson) 1540992273
Then there are a large number of people attempting to defend Sitwell's 'jokes', mostly on the grounds of free speech.
My thoughts and prayers are with my sometime colleague @WilliamSitwell at this tricky time. But then I realised it… https://t.co/fHr1UQrHkB— Jay Rayner (@Jay Rayner) 1540850410
LISTEN UP, SENSIBLE PEOPLE. Please join me in explaining to @waitrose why William Sitwell, editor of their store ma… https://t.co/0B8EbHBuk7— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@Julia Hartley-Brewer) 1541020818
He sounds like a twat, but people being forced to resign for bad email jokes is pathetic. Grow up, 2018 (and all th… https://t.co/WNzSOlwmsB— Marina Hyde (@Marina Hyde) 1540986384
Even politicians are weighing into the debate.
Some folks were just confused by the whole debate.
Puzzled by fuss around Waitrose mag. Its purpose is - title is a bit of a giveaway - to act as promo for Waitrose.… https://t.co/nQZgvNz6mL— Stephen Pollard (@Stephen Pollard) 1541065829
At least some people found the capacity to make a few jokes.
But this story involves free speech, forbidden jokes, vegans, freelancing AND Waitrose! It’s Middle Class Twitter c… https://t.co/qr1KbMhNVe— Alex von Tunzelmann (@Alex von Tunzelmann) 1541065426
Author and RAF veteran Harry Leslie Smith made this interesting point about those in power abusing their position.
What's telling isn't the joke which isn't funny, but the contempt some in a position of power hold for those who mu… https://t.co/rfmvXsvDMo— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith)) 1540993546
Rachel Cunliffe of City AM wrote a thought-provoking Twitter thread about how the scandal is emblematic of the ongoing culture war.
And that’s why it’s been so fascinating watching it all play out on Twitter. It IS part of the culture war, but the… https://t.co/PmLBC1Dlfv— Rachel Cunliffe (@Rachel Cunliffe) 1541025595
At the end of the day, we think that we can all agree that an editor of a magazine, that represents a major high street supermarket, shouldn't be making jokes about killing anyone to a perfect stranger.
Can we all just move on now? Thanks.