A children’s book by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been withdrawn from sale over claims it depicted harmful First Nations stereotypes.
It comes after the peak national body for First Nations education said the book contained “harmful” depictions.
Speaking to the Guardian, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) said ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’ contributed to the “erasure” of First Nations peoples and experiences.
Jamie Oliver and his publisher Penguin Random House UK have apologised and the book has been pulled from shelves.
Criticism
Jamie Oliver wrote ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’ as a sequel to his 2023 children’s book ‘Billy and the Giant Adventure’. His new book includes a First Nations character called Ruby.
NATSIEC said the book “was developed without any consultation with First Nations people or organisations” and “oversimplifies” Ruby’s identity.
For example, Ruby’s character is from Mparntwe (Alice Springs) but uses words from the Gamilaraay language (NSW/Qld). “This misrepresentation fails to recognise the diversity” of First Nations people, NATSIEC said.
Further, more than 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are spoken today.
NATSIEC Chief Executive Sharon Davis told the Guardian the book also “ignores the violent oppression of First Nations people, raising serious concerns about the cultural safety of First Nations readers — especially young people”.
Oliver’s book “trivialises” the Stolen Generations and portrays First Nations beliefs as ‘magic’, reinforcing “damaging biases”, NATSIEC added.
Stolen Generations
NATSIEC also criticised a chapter of the book titled “To Steal a Child”, where Ruby is taken from her home.
It said the book takes a “flippant approach” to the Stolen Generations and places blame on Ruby’s family, suggesting “poor parenting and a lack of judgment led to her being taken.”
“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.”
Penguin
Penguin Random House UK said Oliver requested the book be reviewed by a “consultation” process or “authenticity read”.
“It was our editorial oversight that this did not happen… We apologise unreservedly,” the publisher said.
A Penguin Random House UK spokesperson also said: “It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion… we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.”
Jamie Oliver
Oliver has apologised “wholeheartedly” and said he is “devastated to have caused offence”.
“It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue,” Oliver said in a statement.
“I am listening and reflecting and working closely with my publisher on next steps.”
Currently, Oliver is in Australia promoting the release of a new cookbook.
NATSIEC welcomed the “swift action” of the publisher and author “to prevent further harm” caused by the book.
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