Amid YouTube Channel Exodus, Bon Appétit Taps Marcus Samuelsson As Advisor, Guest Editor

As it seeks to build a more culturally diverse brand voice — amid an ongoing exodus from its popular YouTube channel in response to racially-charged pay disparities — Bon Appétit has onboarded culinary luminary Marcus Samuelsson as an advisor and guest editor.

Samuelsson — the chef behind New York’s Red Rooster Harlem as well as a cookbook author, TV personality, and philanthropist — will guest edit the magazine’s holiday issue, dropping Dec. 1. Additionally, Samuelsson will offer insights to help Bon Appétit‘s food and recipe content gain a more inclusive, global reach. This latter role marks a first for Bon Appétit, and will also see Samuelsson working with the company’s marketing and brand leaders on new programming initiatives.

The hire is effective immediately.

“Now is a time of seismic change not only within our culinary world but in our communities at large and we have a responsibility and opportunity to come together to show how food is a reflection of our cultures, our societal values, and our individuality,” Samuelsson said in a statement. “I learned from working in restaurants at a young age that you’re nobody without your crew. To make a meaningful impact means both empowering the incredible talents around you and enlisting those you admire to share their stories and lend their voice.”

Samuelsson will work alongside Bon Appétit’s newly-tapped executive editor, Sonia Chopra. The duo previously collaborated on the PBS culinary travel series titled No Passport Required, in which Samuelsson served as host and Chopra served as co-executive producer.

Samuelsson’s hire arrives amid a moment of turmoil for Bon Appétit. Editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport departed the title in June after a photo resurfaced in which he appeared to be donning brown face. Subsequently, four hosts of color on the title’s massively popular YouTube channel resigned from their video responsibilities due to the fact that they were not being compensated fairly in comparison to their white colleagues — a claim that parent company Condé Nast has denied. Three white hosts have also resigned from video in solidarity.

In addition to the aforementioned accolades, Samuelsson is the recipient of six James Beard Foundation awards, and was tapped to serve as the guest chef for President Obama’s first state dinner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samuelsson converted his restaurants into community kitchens in partnership with World Central Kitchen.