Jamie Oliver has pulled his new children’s book from sale in response to claims it stereotypes Indigenous Australian people.
The celebrity chef, known for bestselling cookbooks, popular restaurants and long-running TV shows, got in front of the mounting controversy surrounding the recently released “Billy and the Epic Escape.”
Getty
Oliver apologized and said he was “devastated” for causing offense. (Getty)
The fantasy novel — released in May — features an Aboriginal girl with mystical powers who is living in foster care when she is abducted from her home in central Australia, according to the BBC.
Indigenous community leaders slammed the book as “culturally insensitive and harmful,” and said “Billy and the Epic Escape” reinforced “harmful stereotypes.” The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) told NBC News it “dangerously trivializes the ongoing trauma associated with Australia’s violent history of child removal.”
Oliver — who hails from the U.K. — said he was “devastated” and apologized “wholeheartedly” in a statement shared with the media: “It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue. Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale,” he continued.
The 49-year-old “Naked Chef” star was in Australia promoting another literary project when the controversy arose.
Getty
Oliver is in Australia promoting a new cookbook. (Getty)
The book’s publisher took responsibility for the gaffe, telling the BBC that Oliver’s requested consultation from Indigenous Australians never happened due to an alleged “editorial oversight.”
“Our mission at Penguin Random House UK is to make books for everyone and with that commitment comes a deep sense of responsibility,” the company said in a statement. “It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that and take decisive action.”
It continued: “With that in mind, we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale.”
As of Monday afternoon, the title was still available for sale at online retailers such as Amazon.
