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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/31/waitrose-magazine-editor-william-sitwell-steps-down-over-email-mocking-vegans
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| Waitrose magazine editor quits after joke about killing vegans | Waitrose magazine editor quits after joke about killing vegans |
| (1 day later) | |
| The editor of Waitrose Food magazine has left the publication after mocking vegans, suggesting the publication of a piece exposing their “hypocrisy” and joking that they should be force-fed meat. | The editor of Waitrose Food magazine has left the publication after mocking vegans, suggesting the publication of a piece exposing their “hypocrisy” and joking that they should be force-fed meat. |
| William Sitwell made the comments in an email to a freelance journalist and immediately apologised, but on Wednesday the supermarket said he would be stepping down with immediate effect. | William Sitwell made the comments in an email to a freelance journalist and immediately apologised, but on Wednesday the supermarket said he would be stepping down with immediate effect. |
| Selene Nelson, who is a vegan, had pitched Sitwell a “plant-based meal series” looking at meat-free dishes. | Selene Nelson, who is a vegan, had pitched Sitwell a “plant-based meal series” looking at meat-free dishes. |
| In comments first reported by BuzzFeed News, Sitwell replied: “Hi Selene. Thanks for this. 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?” | In comments first reported by BuzzFeed News, Sitwell replied: “Hi Selene. Thanks for this. 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?” |
| In a follow-up email, he added: “I like the idea of a column called The Honest Vegan; a millennial’s diary of earnest endeavour and bacon sandwiches ... ” | In a follow-up email, he added: “I like the idea of a column called The Honest Vegan; a millennial’s diary of earnest endeavour and bacon sandwiches ... ” |
| Sitwell, who has also been a judge on Masterchef, swiftly apologised when the comments were made public this week, but it was not enough to save his job. | Sitwell, who has also been a judge on Masterchef, swiftly apologised when the comments were made public this week, but it was not enough to save his job. |
| The decision was made in conjunction with John Brown Media, the independent production agency that produces Waitrose Food magazine, one of the UK’s highest-circulation publications. | The decision was made in conjunction with John Brown Media, the independent production agency that produces Waitrose Food magazine, one of the UK’s highest-circulation publications. |
| The supermarket has made a big push into vegan food this year and announced a new range of vegan products for its stores earlier this month, including vegan Christmas meals. | The supermarket has made a big push into vegan food this year and announced a new range of vegan products for its stores earlier this month, including vegan Christmas meals. |
| In addition to his work for Waitrose, Sitwell is a commentator on food issues, hosts food podcasts and edits cookbooks. | In addition to his work for Waitrose, Sitwell is a commentator on food issues, hosts food podcasts and edits cookbooks. |
| The heir presumptive to a baronetcy and a descendent of the writers Edith Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell, the Old Etonian also hosts supper clubs at his family’s 17th-century manor house in Northamptonshire. | The heir presumptive to a baronetcy and a descendent of the writers Edith Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell, the Old Etonian also hosts supper clubs at his family’s 17th-century manor house in Northamptonshire. |
| Sitwell used a post on Instagram to pay tribute to the rest of the magazine team and said he was especially proud of publishing a special edition of vegetarian recipes last year, for which the publication “refused advertising from those proffering meat-based products”. | Sitwell used a post on Instagram to pay tribute to the rest of the magazine team and said he was especially proud of publishing a special edition of vegetarian recipes last year, for which the publication “refused advertising from those proffering meat-based products”. |
| He said he had enjoyed working on Waitrose Food for the last two decades and reiterated his “apology to any food and life-loving vegan who was genuinely offended by remarks written by me as an ill-judged joke in a private email and now widely reported”. | He said he had enjoyed working on Waitrose Food for the last two decades and reiterated his “apology to any food and life-loving vegan who was genuinely offended by remarks written by me as an ill-judged joke in a private email and now widely reported”. |
| A Waitrose spokesman said: “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.” | A Waitrose spokesman said: “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.” |
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