Why Did Claire Saffitz Leave Bon Appétit?

In October of last year, celebrated chef Claire Saffitz decided to part ways with the food magazine, Bon Appétit. Her announcement came in after several other food personalities such as Priya Krishna, Sohla El-Waylly, and Molly Baz decided to end their association with the channel (via Eater). Before we dig further into what really happened, it's worth remembering that Saffitz had been a crucial part of the Bon Appétit test kitchen.

She was known for her fresh take on food and the blend of creativity and originality that she brought to the table. For instance, she once showed her fans how to prepare gourmet Twix bars for a special treat in a lengthy 40-minute clip (via Mashable). The end result was a perfect, delicious-looking dessert filled with plenty of caramel.

Saffitz's popularity was also evident, which can be seen from the scores of fan posts dedicated to her on Reddit. While she remains quite the cooking sensation, her decision to part ways with Bon Appétit has remained a major talking point that was a part of a larger controversy at the channel. Here's what went down.

The issue came down to diversity and equal representation at Bon Appétit. Several personalities including Claire Saffitz, Priya Krishna, and Rick Martinez were of the opinion that the organization was simply not playing fair in terms of giving chefs of color equal opportunities in their careers. This was, of course, problematic and something that didn't sit well with a lot of well-known faces working with the channel.

Saffitz posted a lengthy explanation on her Instagram account, shedding light on her decision to leave Bon Appétit. She wrote, "As an employee, I was, of course, to some degree, aware of the toxic, racist, secretive, and ultra-competitive environment that we worked in 'together.' But I see now that I also missed a lot." She further added that she wished she'd spoken up earlier and that she was aware of her white privilege that helped her excel within the organization.  

As per Eater, the chef also expressed her gratitude for everything she'd gained during her time with the channel but made a strong point: Everyone wasn't granted equal access to opportunities and that was a problem. She further said that she'd considered everything and decided to step away from the channel, adding, "I'm going to do my own thing."