“I'm shocked”
Jamie Oliver withdraws children's book
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Jamie Oliver has published dozens of cookbooks – with resounding success. The publication of his first children's book, however, turns into a disaster. After Australian natives criticized the work, the Brit took it off the market.
As the saying goes, shoemakers, stick to your lasts. And perhaps celebrity chef Jamie Oliver should have stuck to putting recipes on paper. After all, he has come a long way – becoming the second most successful author in Great Britain behind “Harry Potter” creator Joanne K. Rowling.
But Oliver wanted more – and that's why he recently published his first children's book called “Billy and the Epic Escape”. Apparently not a good idea, as we now see. The 45-year-old now felt compelled to have the work taken off the shelves and apologize several times.
The reason is the criticism of the book by Australian natives, whose main character is a girl from the indigenous population of Australia. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Commission (Natsiec) even described the work as “harmful” and “disrespectful” towards the indigenous culture and population. Not only are indigenous words used and assigned incorrectly. The book also contributes to the “erasure, trivialization and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences.”
Published without consultation
Publisher Penguin Random House UK admitted to the Australian Guardian that there was no consultation with any indigenous organization, community or person before publication. Billy and the Epic Escape will now be withdrawn from sale in all countries, including the UK and Australia.
Oliver, in turn, said according to the Guardian: “I am shocked that I have caused offense and I apologize from the bottom of my heart.” And further: “It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful topic. Together with my publishers, we have decided to remove the book from sale.”
