Sohla El-Waylly Isn’t Your Hero
A critique of Bon Appétit’s biggest martyr
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The Overview
There are a number of concessions that need to be said before the truth of this subject can be discussed, so lets get those out of the way: Racism is bad. Unequal pay for equal work is bad. Bon Appétit’s former Editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport was rightfully dismissed for behavior unbecoming of his position and unbecoming of, well, a good person. Condé Nast was overdue for reform, and I hope they have taken the appropriate steps to rectify what most would agree were racist hiring practices and unfair treatment of their talent.
But, if you have followed Bon Appétit’s controversial summer, you are likely aware of its new cult hero and martyr, Sohla El-Waylly, former assistant editor of the acclaimed Test Kitchen. El-Waylly was one of the original “whistleblowers,” if you will, publicly calling for then Editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport’s resignation after racist images of him surfaced online. However, El-Waylly took it a step further in her Instagram post, calling for BIPOC contributors to be “given fair titles, fair salaries, and compensation for video appearances.” All of this feels right and just.
If the story ended there, this post wouldn’t exist, but alas.
Valid Criticisms
One of El-Waylly’s biggest complaints against Bon Appétit, according to her interview with Vulture, is the handling of her pay and position as she became more involved with the Test Kitchen videos and staff. The heart of the issue stems from the fact the El-Waylly was overqualified for the position she chose to take. Pause: It is important to recognize that for BIPOC, high-level positions are harder to get, especially in the world of media and content creation.
And as a casual viewer, I can remember several personalities featured on the channel consulting El-Waylly across a collection of projects and videos, especially when it comes to tempering chocolate (but not just that). El-Waylly…
