Jamie Oliver 'Devastated' as Children's Book Is Pulled amid Criticism from Indigenous Australians

Mar. 15, 2025

Jamie Oliver and his book ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’.Photo:Rocket Weijers/Getty; Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Rocket Weijers/Getty; Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Jamie Oliverhas apologized after his children’s book was pulled from shelves following criticism from Indigenous Australians.

The celebrity chef, 49, said he was “devastated to have caused offense” as it was revealed that publisher Penguin Random House U.K. would be withdrawingBilly and the Epic Escapefollowing its initial release back in May, PEOPLE can confirm.

Per theBBC, the book — which is a sequel to Oliver’s 2023 release,Billy and the Giant Adventure— “features an Aboriginal girl with mystical powers living in foster care who is abducted from her home in central Australia.”

Jamie Oliver with his book ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

“It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue. Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale,” he continued.

According to theAssociated Press, Indigenous campaigners thought they should have been consulted before the book was published.

“Our mission at Penguin Random House UK is to make books for everyone and with that commitment comes a deep sense of responsibility. It is clear that our publishing standards fell short on this occasion, and we must learn from that and take decisive action," a Penguin Random House U.K. spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE.

“With that in mind, we have agreed with our author, Jamie Oliver, that we will be withdrawing the book from sale,” the company added.

A photo of Jamie Oliver’s ‘Billy and the Epic Escape’.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

NATSIEC’s Sharon Davis also commented on the character in the book being able to communicate with animals and plants and read minds because “that’s the Indigenous way,” the outlet stated. Davis insisted the character’s description reduces “complex and diverse belief systems” to “magic,” the BBC reported.

“This trivialization is both culturally insensitive and harmful," the organization said, per NBC News.

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Davis also said that the fact the character uses vocabulary from the Gamilaraay people of New South Wales and Queensland showed “complete disregard for the vast differences among First Nations languages, cultures, and practices,” per the BBC.

source: people.com