Jamie Oliver Withdraws Controversial Children’s Book Amid Indigenous Backlash
Jamie Oliver has pulled his children’s fantasy novel, ‘Billy and the Epic Escape,’ after receiving strong criticism for its portrayal of Indigenous Australians. Leaders from First Nations communities labeled the content as ‘offensive,’ citing language errors and harmful stereotypes. Oliver expressed his regret, stating it was never his intention to misrepresent Indigenous experiences. The publisher, Penguin Random House UK, acknowledged an ‘editorial oversight’ in ensuring proper consultation with Indigenous Australians. Both Oliver and the publisher aim to learn from this incident to improve future publishing standards.