November 9th 2024.
Following his recent release of a children's book, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has issued an apology and pulled the book from sale after receiving criticism for its portrayal of First Nation Australians. Oliver, a father of five, is among the many famous figures who have ventured into writing for young readers.
The backlash was sparked by the Australian subplot in Oliver's fantasy novel, Billy and the Epic Escape, which tells the story of a First Nations girl living in foster care. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation condemned the book, stating that it contributes to the harmful erasure, trivialization, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and their experiences.
In response, the 49-year-old issued a statement expressing his deep regret and offering a sincere apology for causing offense. He also made the decision to withdraw the book from sale in collaboration with his publishers. A spokesperson for Penguin Random House, the publishing company behind the book, acknowledged their responsibility and announced the book's withdrawal as a means to learn from their mistake.
Sharon Davies, chief executive of Natsiec, declared that pulling the book from shelves was the only way to rectify the harm caused. She highlighted the book's perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and its disregard for the violent oppression of First Nations people, especially young readers. Davies also criticized the book's depiction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander characters and cultural practices as irresponsible and damaging.
This is not the first book release for Oliver, who has sold millions of copies in his career as a cookbook author. He rose to fame in the 1990s with his TV series, including The Naked Chef, and has since released numerous books and appeared in various TV shows. In 2019, he released his first children's book, Billy and the Giant Adventure, and expressed his consideration for dyslexic readers by carefully choosing the font to ensure clarity.
Aside from his successful career as a chef and author, Oliver is also known for his advocacy for children's food and nutrition. In 2005, he made headlines for criticizing unhealthy school meals and has since continued his efforts through his food education program, the Ministry of Food. This year marks its 15th anniversary, and Oliver remains committed to teaching children how to cook and eat healthily.
In the entertainment world, Oliver is not one to shy away from controversy. He recently made headlines for hitting out at Disney's hit series, Rivals, and has been a vocal advocate for healthy eating and living. For any news or stories about celebrities, feel free to reach out to our entertainment team through our website or by email or phone. We'd love to hear from you.
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