“I’m Going To Do My Own Thing”: Claire Saffitz Has Also Left ‘Bon Appétit’
Saffitz is the eighth person to leave 'Bon Appétit' over allegations of racism and pay disparities.
One of Bon Appétit‘s biggest stars of their Test Kitchen video series, Claire Saffitz, has announced she has parted ways with the legacy food magazine, following a mass exodus earlier this year due to allegations of racism and pay disparities at the magazine.
On Instagram, Saffitz announced that her contract with Bon Appétit publisher Condé Nast had ended in May, and after “several months” of consideration, she has decided to leave the company.
“I’m grateful to Bon Appétit and [Condé Nast Entertainment] for the opportunity to build my career on their platforms, but this opportunity was not granted equally to all,” she writes. “I respect and support the decisions of many of my colleagues to blaze new trails. I look forward to following all of their great work.”
It comes after a public reckoning beginning this June, after fellow on-camera talent Solha El-Waylly and others called out Condé Nast for systemic racism, saying that BIPOC staff weren’t paid equally, if at all, for their video appearances.
Although Condé vowed to do better under public scrutiny and several management staff resigned as a result, seven staff members left the company in August due to disagreements in contract negotiations — Test Kitchen star Priya Krishna described Condé’s statements and attempts at ‘reform’ as “lip service” in a public note announcing her departure.
On-screen talent Priya Krishna, Rick Martinez, Sohla El-Waylly, Molly Baz and Gaby Melian all announced their departure in August, as well as two magazine staff, Ryan Walker-Hartshorn and Jesse Sparks, the only two Black staff at the publication.
In her statement, Saffitz said she remained hopeful that Bon Appétit will shift in the future. “Bon Appétit’s new leadership, coupled with the incredible hard work and dedication of the staff, make me confident that it will be a more equitable, inclusive, and dynamic place in the future,” she wrote.
Saffitz had previously returned to social media in September to post about her upcoming cookbook Dessert Person after leaving a supportive message for her Bon Appétit colleagues in June, while acknowledging she didn’t do enough to call out the toxic workplace environment. She concludes her message here with another mention of her cookbook, out October 20, and by saying she’ll be online more often to share her new work.
Last month, El-Waylly began her own cooking show with YouTube channel Binging With Babish. Previously, she said she will continue to create recipes for Bon Appétit‘s magazine and website.
Read Saffitz’s statement’s from October and June below.