Children’s book by chef Jamie Oliver withdrawn after First Nation Australians voice offense
Associated PressNOV 2024
Jamie Oliver Pulls Children's Book After Indigenous Backlash
Above: Jamie Oliver at Jamie's Italian onboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas on Nov. 10, 2023 in Sydney. Image copyright: James D. Morgan/Contributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
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
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.