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Jamie Oliver Withdraws Children’s Book Amid Controversy

British chef Jamie Oliver and his publisher, Penguin Random House, have decided to withdraw Oliver’s children’s book, “Billy And The Epic Escape,” from circulation following backlash from Indigenous Australians regarding its content.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation criticized the book, which was released earlier this year, claiming it perpetuated harmful stereotypes and tropes concerning Indigenous spirituality and their connection to nature.

Oliver, who gained fame with his 1999 publication and television show, The Naked Chef, is known for advocating for healthier eating among children. He initiated the Feed Me Better campaign in 2005 to promote nutritious food options in schools, a movement that garnered support from the British government.

Concerns centered around a subplot in the book involving an Indigenous girl in foster care, with critics stating that it contributes to the ongoing erasure and misunderstanding of First Nations narratives and experiences.

Expressing his remorse, Oliver stated that he was “devastated” for any offense caused and issued a sincere apology, affirming that it was never his objective to misrepresent such a sensitive topic. He confirmed that he and his publisher agreed to remove the book from the market.

Penguin Random House echoed this sentiment in a statement, acknowledging that their publishing standards did not meet the necessary criteria in this instance. They committed to learning from the incident and taking steps to ensure such oversights do not occur in the future.

This book marked Oliver’s debut in children’s literature following the success of his culinary publications. Upon its release, he noted on social media that he had made a conscious effort to select an accessible font to aid readers with dyslexia, like himself, in enjoying the content.

Source
www.thewrap.com