Jamie Oliver Apologizes, Pulls Controversial Children’s Book Off Shelf

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has also become a successful author. On top of his appearances on television as a chef, he has written several cookbooks and even got started writing fantastical children’s books. However, his most recent book was the source of controversy, and he pulled it from publication as a result.

Here is what happened with Jamie’s book and why he chose to take it off the market.

Jamie Oliver Children’s Book Pulled From Sale

Jamie Oliver has started taking his writing from cookbooks to children’s literature. He has created a series of books geared towards kids that has more fantasy elements to the stories. However, one of his latest books was said to portray harmful Indigenous stereotypes, and he pulled it from publication as a result.

The book was titled Billy and the Epic Escape. The controversy came when the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) said the book has moments that paint Australian Indigenous families in a negative light.

Billy and the Epic Escape tells the story of Billy and his friends as they protect the magical Waterfall Woods from an evil threat. The book’s villain abducts a First Nations Indigenous character named Ruby while she lives in foster care.

According to the NATSIEC, “The implication that First Nations families are easily swayed by money and neglect the safety of their children perpetuates a racist stereotype that has been used to justify child removals for over a century” (via Us Magazine).

The organization also said the book perpetuates stereotypes by equating First Nation spirituality and beliefs to magic. “This trivialization is both culturally insensitive and harmful,” the group said. They added it also emphasized the “harmful stereotype that Indigenous peoples are a homogenous group.”

The statement also said a big problem was that Jamie Oliver didn’t reach out to First Nation communities before publishing the book.

Jamie Oliver Responds To Criticism

Jamie Oliver showed great remorse at the book’s criticism and quickly pulled it from publication. “I am devastated to have caused offense and apologize wholeheartedly,” Jamie said on Monday.

“It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue,” he said. “Together with my publishers, we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.” It was also revealed that Jamie had asked for a “consultation with Indigenous Australians about the book.” The publisher did not complete this due to “editorial oversight.”

Thanks to Jamie’s quick actions, the NATSIEC said they were “pleased to read that Oliver seems to be taking actions to make amends.”

What are your thoughts on the controversy about Jamie Oliver’s children’s book? Let us know in the comments below.