Earlier this year, Oliver's children's book "Billy and the epic escape" was released. It depicts, among other things, how a girl from a foster home in Alice Springs, an Australian city known for its Aboriginal culture, is abducted by the book's antagonist. Critics argue that the book contributes to perpetuating a stereotypical image of the indigenous people and that it has a colonial narrative.
"I am devastated to hear that I have caused offense and sincerely apologize for doing so", says Jamie Oliver in a statement to The Guardian.
Oliver, who broke through as "The Naked Chef" in his own cooking show around the millennium shift, and the British publisher Penguin Random House have admitted that they did not consult any organization, association or person from the indigenous people in the work on the book.
"We urge Penguin Books and Jamie Oliver to recognize the content's impact and act quickly to prevent future harm", says Sharon Davis, CEO of Natsiec, a study association that educates on issues related to Australia's indigenous people.
