• by Melynda Fuller , June 9, 2020

Bon Appetit’s top editor is stepping down following a series of complaints and calls for his resignation from staff and contributors.

Bon Appetit’s EIC Adam Rapoport, who held the position for nearly a decade, announced his move in Instagram: “I am stepping down as editor in chief of Bon Appetit to reflect on the work I need to do as a human being and to allow Bon Appetit to get to a better place.”

The post also referenced a photo that resurfaced by writer and wine professional Tammie Teclemariam that showed Rapoport and his wife in brown face, which compounded the controversy surrounding the editor.  

Variety reports BA editors Sohla El-Waylly, Molly Baz and Carla Lalli Music were some of the staffers who called for Rapoport to step down.

El-Waylly, a chef and restauranteur who joined the title as an assistant editor last year, further claimed that BA pays only the white editors who appear in its popular test kitchen videos, but not people of color.

Test kitchen faces like Baz, a senior food editor at the title, test kitchen director Chris Morocco, senior food editor Andy Baraghani and “It’s Alive with Brad” host Brad Leone pledged not to appear in videos until “BIPOC colleagues receive equal pay and are fairly compensated for the appearances,” New York magazine reports.

Matt Duckor, Conde Nast’s head of programming for lifestyle and style, stated on Twitter and Instagram that pay inequalities would be corrected, though some are calling for back pay for the editors. Conde Nast also tweeted that it “is dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace.”

Rapoport’s resignation follows yesterday’s news that Refinery29’s cofounder and global editor in chief Christine Barberich would step down from her role in an effort to make more room for diversity in leadership. Her departure also came staffers complained about a work environment hostile toward women of color.