Jamie Oliver enjoys Coldplay concert with a female friend in Sydney - after he pulled his childrens book from the shelves amid row over stereotyping Indigenous Australians
Jamie Oliver has been spotted enjoying a Coldplay concert in Sydney with a female friend after his childrens book became steeped in controversy and was slammed by Indigenous Australians for its damaging and disrespectful plot.
Jamie Oliver has been spotted enjoying a Coldplay concert in Sydney with a female friend after his childrens book became steeped in controversy and was slammed by Indigenous Australians for its damaging and disrespectful plot.
The British chef was seemingly in awe as the band took to the stage as he enjoyed the gig alongside the woman and her husband who is also a friend of Olivers.
Penguin Random House UK recently confirmed that the chefs second book Billy and the Epic Escape was removed in all countries where it has rights, including the UK and Australia.
The novel, authored by the 49-year-old, included a chapter titled To Steal a Child detailing an Aboriginal girl being abducted by the books villain from foster care.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) slammed the 400-page fantasy novel for primary school children for implying that First Nation families neglect the safety of their children.
Oliver, who is currently in Australia, on a promotion run for his latest cookbook, Simply Jamie, has issued his second apology for stereotyping Indigenous Australians in the novel which was published in May.
Jamie Oliver has been spotted with a friend at Coldplay concert in Sydney in the wake of his controversial childrens book
The chef, 49, appeared to be enjoying with the woman and her husband at the concert, who is a chef friend of Jamie Olivers
It comes as the Indigenous Australian community hit out at Oliver stating his book implied First Nation families neglect the safety of their children
The British chef sparked backlash when his book (pictured) saw the villain abduct a young Aboriginal girl from foster care in a story which First Nations communities deemed damaging and disrespectful
In a statement released to the Guardian on Sunday, the 49-year-old said: I am devastated to hear I have caused offence and wholly apologise for doing so.
I am listening and reflecting and working closely with my publisher on next steps.
It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue, he said. Together with my publishers we have decided to withdraw the book from sale.
MailOnline has approached both Penguin Random House and Jamie Olivers representatives for comment.
The controversial chapter in the now pulled novel seemingly referenced The Stolen Generations - a traumatic period where the children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were removed from their families by the Australian federal and state government.
For around a hundred years, thousands of Aboriginal children were systematically ripped away from their families, communities, and culture.
These children were taken by the police; from their homes; on their way to or from school, according to the Healing Foundation.
They were placed in over 480 institutions, adopted or fostered by non-Indigenous people and often subjected to abuse.
The children were denied all access to their culture, they were not allowed to speak their language and they were punished if they did. The impacts of this are still being felt today.
Jamie Oliver, 49, (pictured) has pulled his second childrens book, Billy and the Epic Escape, from sale following condemnation over its Indigenous plotline
The 49-year-old chef pictured with his cookbook Simply Jamie, which he is currently promoting in Australia
Now Oliver and publisher Penguin Random House UK have pulled the book from the shelves, following its release in May, after issuing an official apology, reported The Guardian on Sunday
NATSIEC chief executive, Sharon Davis, hit out at Olivers childrens book claiming it inferred Aboriginal families were easily swayed by money, and that it reinforced damaging biases.
She said: [It] perpetuates a racist stereotype that has been used to justify child removals for over a century.
This portrayal is not only offensive but also reinforces damaging biases.
Oliver and his publisher have confessed that they did not consult with any Indigenous Australians prior to the books publication.
Penguin Random House UK apologised for the editorial oversight.
Davies said the book perpetuated harmful stereotypes and that its depiction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was irresponsible.
She told the Guardian: We urge Penguin Books and Jamie Oliver to recognise the impact of their content and take swift action to prevent further harm.
Penguin Books should pull Billy and the Epic Escape from circulation, specifically removing all content involving First Nations characters and cultural references.
The book is Olivers 2024 follow-up to his 2023 childrens book debut, Billy and the Giant Adventure.
Set in England, the story features a subplot of a young First Nations girl who is living in foster care, before being stolen by the books antagonist from her Indigenous community, near Alice Springs.
Oliver was accused of cultural appropriation after he launched a jerk rice that members of the Caribbean community claim doesnt have jerk in it amid criticism from people including Dawn Butler (Pictured)
Levi Roots (pictured with the product) branded the rice a mistake and accused the chef of getting on a band wagon
The book also contained errors as Oliver attempted to use Indigenous words from the Arrernte language of Alice Springs and the Gamilaraay people of New South Wales as well as Queensland.
However, it isnt the first time Oliver has been steeped in a culture row having previously been accused of cultural appropriation in August 2018.
Jamie Oliver was previously accused of cultural appropriation after he launched a jerk rice that members of the Caribbean community claim doesnt have jerk in it.
The row over the TV chefs new product started when London MP Dawn Butler tweeted him saying your jerk rice is not ok.
The MP, who describes herself on social media as the UKs first elected female African-Caribbean Government Minister, wrote: #jamieoliver @jamieoliver #jerk Im just wondering do you know what #Jamaican #jerk actually is?
Its not just a word you put before stuff to sell products. @levirootsmusic should do a masterclass. Your jerk Rice is not ok. This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop.
After Ms Butlers tweet, TV chef Levi Roots appeared on Good Morning Britain with fellow Caribbean cook Rustie Lee to discuss the row further.
Roots admitted to hosts Jeremy Kyle and Kate Garraway: I do think it was a mistake by Jamie, either by him or by his team.
However Oliver adamantly defended his punchy jerk rice following a torrent of criticism
Oliver also previously complained that Brexit ruined his 40th birthday as he fretted over his business woes
But Lee appeared more infuriated by the row, saying: It is an insult. Jerk is from the Caribbean. And as much as I love Jamie. The point is its getting on a band wagon.
Roots, who took part in a televised jerk masterclass in London a few years ago, was less incensed.
He said: I dont think its that serious. I think for Caribbean food to go get to where we want it to get to, we have to change things and Im a big one for that.
But youve got to know what jerk is. Jerk is a method of cooking and it is the actual marinade. If it doesnt have certain ingredients in it, its not jerk.
Not a lot of people watching this actually know what jerk is. They think its just a word but its a flavour. If you dont have these flavours in the food its not jerk.
But Lee insisted that his use of marketing was offensive to her community, saying: Why didnt he call it pukka rice? Hes taken jerk to try and be funny. Its a bit of an insult to Caribbean people.
She added that Olivers rice, which is made with aubergine, chilli and beans, is nothing to do with jerk.
However Oliver adamantly defended his punchy jerk rice following a torrent of criticism.
Amid the controversy, Oliver told Sky News: Ive worked with flavours and spices from all over the world my whole career, learning and drawing inspiration from different countries and cultures to give a fresh twist to the food we eat every day.
When I named the rice my intention was only to show where my inspiration came from.
Oliver also previously complained that Brexit ruined his 40th birthday as he fretted over his business woes.
The chef, who was left £29million out of pocket and with over a 1,000 of his employees without jobs, and the risk of his restaurant chains including Jamie Olivers Italian and Barbecoa closing, claimed his troubles overshadowed the milestone.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver attending a media conference to mark his arrival in Australia in 2006
Oliver first rose to fame on The Naked Chef cooking show, which ran from 1999 to 2001
Speaking on BBC Radio Fours Food Programme to celebrate 20 years since The Naked Chef first appeared on screens, the 49-year-old said he worked hard to fix his problems and gave it his best in 2019
The Daily Mirror reported that he also blamed Brexit and the changing high street for the problems that he encountered.
He said: My 40th birthday was ruined because of the cloud of, "Oh right, whats happening here?" and working out the consequences.
In a way, there is a massive sense of relief because I gave it my best, and I thought I was clever enough to fix it.
Oliver first rose to fame on The Naked Chef cooking show, which ran from 1999 to 2001.
His television and publishing career has seen him sell more than 46million books globally, and reach an estimated worldwide TV audience of 67million.
