Jamie Oliver Pulls Children's Book After Indigenous Backlash
UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and Penguin Random House UK have withdrawn his children's book 'Billy and the Epic Escape' from sale following criticism from First Nations communities in Australia....
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- UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and Penguin Random House UK have withdrawn his children's book 'Billy and the Epic Escape' from sale following criticism from First Nations communities in Australia.[1]
- 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.[2]
- The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Commission accused the book of being damaging and disrespectful, particularly criticizing a chapter titled 'To Steal a Child.'[1][3]
- The publication reportedly contained errors in using Indigenous words from the Arrernte language of Alice Springs and the Gamilaraay people of New South Wales and Queensland.[4]
- It has been reported that neither Oliver nor his publisher consulted Indigenous organizations, communities, or individuals before publishing the book.[5]
- The withdrawal decision affects all countries where Penguin Random House UK holds rights, including the UK and Australia, while Oliver is currently in Australia promoting his latest cookbook.[1][6]
Sources: [1]Guardian, [2]BBC News, [3]Abc, [4]Daily Mail, [5]SBS News and [6]Al Jazeera.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by HELLO! and The Mirror. 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, as provided by The Daily Beast and Geelongadvertiser. 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.
