Jamie Oliver Pulls Children's Book After Indigenous Backlash

Jamie Oliver Pulls Children's Book After Indigenous Backlash
Above: Jamie Oliver at Jamie's Italian onboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas on Nov. 10, 2023 in Sydney. Image copyright: James D. Morgan/Contributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

The Facts

  • UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and Penguin Random House UK have withdrawn his children's book "Billy and the Epic Escape" from sale following criticism from First Nations communities in Australia.

  • The book's subplot involves a First Nations girl living in foster care in Alice Springs, which drew criticism for allegedly perpetuating harmful stereotypes and trivializing complex histories.


The Spin

Narrative A

The book was created with good intentions and carefully designed to be accessible to readers, including those with dyslexia. It was part of a successful series of children's books by the celebrity chef known for his social advocacy. He never intended to misinterpret a challenging issue or cause harm.

Narrative B

The book perpetuates racist stereotypes that have been used to justify child removals for over a century, contributes to the erasure of First Nations peoples' experiences, and demonstrates a complete failure to engage with Indigenous communities in the creative process. First Nations' stories aren't to be told through a colonial lens. This book should indeed be pulled.


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