Jamie Oliver has retracted a children’s book he authored following criticism that it perpetuated stereotypes of First Nation Australians.
In his publication, Billy And The Epic Escape, the culinary expert narrates the tale of a First Nations girl placed in foster care within an Indigenous community who is kidnapped by the antagonist of the story.
However, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (Natsiec) condemned the book for its role in the “erasure, trivialization, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and their experiences.”
The organization’s chief executive, Sharon Davis, asserted that the book “overlooks the violent suppression of First Nations individuals” and criticized its representations of First Nations people and their cultural practices as “irresponsible and harmful, indicating a significant lack of understanding and respect,” as reported by The Guardian.
In a statement, Oliver, 49, expressed: “I am heartbroken to have caused offense and sincerely apologize.”
“It was never my aim to misinterpret this profoundly painful matter. Together with my publishers, we have resolved to withdraw the book from circulation.”
A representative from the publisher, Penguin Random House, stated: “It is evident that our publishing standards did not meet expectations in this instance, and we must learn from this to implement corrective measures.”
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The renowned chef released his inaugural children’s book, Billy And The Giant Adventure, the previous year and noted in a social media update that he had “meticulously selected the font to ensure the text is as legible as possible” considering that individuals with dyslexia, which Oliver experiences, may struggle with reading.
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He is also widely recognized for hosting numerous television series, including Jamie’s Easy Christmas (2022), Jamie Cooks The Mediterranean (2023), and Jamie: Fast And Simple, which premiered on Channel 4 last month.
During the early stages of his career, he gained fame as The Naked Chef, a title stemming from his 1999 book and television series of the same name.
