Jamie Oliver withdraws children’s book amid backlash over cultural insensitivity

Renowned celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has pulled his latest children’s book, Billy and the Epic Escape, from shelves globally following a wave of criticism from Indigenous Australian communities. The 400-page fantasy novel, published earlier this year, follows the story of an Aboriginal girl with mystical powers who, while in foster care, is abducted from her home in central Australia.

Strong concerns from First Nations leaders, who considered the representation of Indigenous characters disrespectful and the narrative problematic, led to the decision to recall the book. The decision was made as a result of these concerns. Some people believe that the book contributes to the erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and their experiences. They also believe that the book reinforces stereotypes, misrepresents cultural nuances, and contributes to the erasure of others.

In a statement released from Australia, where he is currently promoting his latest cookbook, Oliver expressed regret over the unintended impact of the book. He stated that he had not intended to misinterpret such a sensitive issue and described feeling deeply upset about the harm caused. Oliver also committed to learning from the feedback he had received.

Penguin Random House UK, the book’s publisher, admitted to an oversight in the editorial process, revealing that while Oliver had requested consultation with Indigenous Australians during the book’s development, this consultation ultimately did not occur. The absence of this engagement drew significant criticism, as Indigenous leaders pointed out that such input could have been instrumental in preventing the cultural misrepresentation present in the book’s final version.

The character in question, an Aboriginal girl who can read minds and communicate with animals and plants, is described as having these abilities because “that’s the Indigenous way.” Sharon Davis, from a national First Nations education body, criticized this portrayal, arguing that it reduces “complex and diverse belief systems” to a simplistic notion of magic.

Additionally, the plot’s abduction storyline was flagged as culturally insensitive, especially in light of Australia’s Stolen Generations, a period marked by policies that forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families in efforts to assimilate them. Sue-Anne Hunter, a community leader, condemned this aspect of the book, calling it a “particularly insensitive choice” given the traumatic history for Indigenous communities.

Another point of contention was the use of language from the Gamilaraay people of New South Wales and Queensland for a character from Mparntwe, or Alice Springs. Davis pointed out that this showed “complete disregard for the vast differences among First Nations languages, cultures, and practices,” highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of Australia’s Indigenous diversity in cultural portrayals.

Wiradyuri author and publisher Dr. Anita Heiss emphasized that Australian publishing, and publishing in general, should not present Indigenous stories through a colonial perspective, especially by authors with limited connection to the communities and regions they are depicting.

In response to the criticism, Oliver and Penguin Random House UK confirmed that the book would be withdrawn from sale worldwide. The publisher acknowledged that their publishing standards had fallen short in this instance and emphasized a commitment to enhancing cultural sensitivity in future projects.