Waitrose magazine editor resigns in disgrace after mocking vegans

William Sitwell suggested a series exposing the hypocrisy of vegans, suggesting they be force-fed meat. He also suggested killing vegans, one by one.

When a vegan pitched a series for Waitrose Food magazine, the editor totally insulted vegans. [Image @PeterEgan6/Twitter]

William Sitwell, the editor of the magazine Waitrose Food has been forced to resign following email comments to a freelance journalist. In the email he suggested the killing of vegans, one at a time, quoting their “hypocrisy” and suggesting jokingly they be force-fed meat.

Soon after Sitwell emailed the comments, they appeared in the media, leading him to instantly apologise. However, Waitrose has announced on Wednesday that he will be leaving his job immediately.

Mocking vegans and force-feeding them meat

Buzzfeed News first picked up the story. Selene Nelson, a freelance journalist and herself a vegan had pitched a “plant-based meal series” to Sitwell, which would cover meat-free dishes. Sitwell replied to Nelson’s email, thanking her and going on to make a “joke,” asking what about a series about “killing vegans, one by one.”

Sitwell then went on to ask about ways to trap vegans and properly interrogating them to expose their "hypocrisy." Sitwell then suggested force-feeding vegans meat by making them “eat steak and drink red wine.”

My friend @Selene_Nelson pitched a series of #vegan recipes to @WilliamSitwell at @Waitrose Magazine and got this absolutely mind boggling response: https://t.co/LS5WKsM7Xj pic.twitter.com/FVjNrRJ7cy

— Nick Chowdrey (@nickchef88) October 29, 2018

In a later email, Sitwell said he liked the idea of a new column titled “The Honest Vegan: a millennial’s diary of earnest endeavour and bacon sandwiches.”

Waitrose and John Brown Media, the production agency producing Waitrose Food, agreed that it would be the best decision if Sitwell stepped down from his job.

Waitrose pushing vegan food

Waitrose has this year made a push into supplying vegan food in their supermarkets and recently announced their new range of vegan products, including Christmas meals.

Sitwell had earlier this year made an Instagram post, paying tribute to the team at Waitrose Magazine and saying how proud he was last year of a special edition offering vegetarian recipes. In that edition, the magazine refused to accept advertising relating to meat-based products.

In his apology for his email remarks, Sitwell went on to say how much he had enjoyed working on the Waitrose Food magazine for the last 20 years. He also directly apologised to any vegan who had been genuinely offended by his remarks, made in an “ill-judged joke” and now reported widely in the press.

A spokesman for Waitrose, the company said that due to Sitwell’s recent email remarks, they have told John Brown Media they believe his leaving is the “right and proper move.” The spokesman then said they would be working with the agency to appoint a new editor. They said they were grateful for Sitwell‘s contribution over the last almost 20 years.

Besides his work on the Waitrose Food magazine, Sitwell hosts food podcasts, comments on food issues and also edits cookbooks.