Former Waitrose food editor who suggested 'Killing Vegans' hired by the daily Telegraph | Totally Vegan Buzz

Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph

Former Waitrose Food Editor Who Suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ Hired By The Daily Telegraph
Image: William Sitwell / Twitter

The former Waitrose Food editor who was fired for suggesting ‘killing vegans’ and ‘force feeding them meat’ has landed a job at the Daily Telegraph.

William Sitwell was lost his former job after a bizarre response to a pitch from vegan freelance journalist Selene Nelson.

He apologised for the exchange, which was enough for the Daily Telegraph to offer Sitwell a position as a restaurant critic.

Nelson was the first to make a jibe about the appointment, suggesting a repeat of the disastrous email exchange.

Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @WilliamSitwell / Twitter
Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @Selene_Nelson / Twitter

And some vegans were far from impressed by the Daily Telegraph‘s move, as Sitwell lapped up the appointment.

Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @MaisyMooCow / Twitter
Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @WilliamSitwell / Twitter

Nelson publicised an email exchange with Sitwell last October after she pitched a series on healthy, eco-friendly, plant-based meals.

He responded: “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?”

The Daily Telegraph said Sitwell would bring a ‘unique voice’ to the paper.

Apology

Following the high-profile incident, Sitwell and Nelson met on The One Show and both reported receiving death threats, and the vegan journalist was posted meat packages.

Sitwell also apologised to Nelson for his email, describing it as ‘flippant and immature and silly’.

“It is quite rare for editors taking the time to reply to people,” he added.

Despite the backlash, Sitwell doesn’t seem convinced by the merits of a plant-based lifestyle.

“We eat things because it gives us pleasure, but I don’t think vegans can occupy the high moral ground on this,” he said.

“I think that one of the offshoots of the animal world of production is manure. How are we going to fertilise a world of carrots and avocados?”

Vegans were quick to make jokes and suggest Sitwell reconsider his diet.

Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @Julianbarry / Twitter
Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @DavidPGardner / Twitter
Former Waitrose food editor who suggested ‘Killing Vegans’ hired by the daily Telegraph
Image: @ziegfieldstar and @MaisyMooCow / Twitter

What do you think of the Daily Telegraph’s appointment of William Sitwell? Tell us in the comments below!

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Published by Totally Vegan Buzz Team

The Totally Vegan Buzz Team are a gang of extremely entertaining writers who also happen to be vegan. Together, they bring you all the vegan infotainment you need - trends, news, quizzes and more. Leave them a comment! They love it when you guys say hi...

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