There has been a massive uproar due to the James Olive’s book controversy. In response to criticism from Indigenous Australians, British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has taken his children’s book Billy And The Epic Escape off the market. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation denounced the fantasy book for spreading negative preconceptions and cliches about First Nation People, particularly their spirituality and connection to nature.
A subplot involving an Indigenous girl in foster care was the subject of criticism, which claimed that it trivialized and stereotyped First Nations communities’ experiences. In response, Oliver expressed deep regret and apologized for causing offense, stating, “It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue.”
Oliver and publisher Penguin Random House decided to remove the book from circulation. Indigenous campaigners criticized the lack of consultation with First Nations communities before publication, an omission that Penguin Random House acknowledged as a failure in their editorial process. They pledged to learn from James Olive’s book controversy and emphasized the need for proper engagement with Indigenous voices.
Sharon Davis pointed out specific issues in the book from a national First Nations education body. She noted that attributing mystical powers to the character, such as mind-reading and communicating with animals, oversimplified complex belief systems and reduced them to magic.
The story focuses on the girl’s abduction and also sparked outrage, given its resemblance to the horrific story of the Stolen Generations when Aboriginal children were forcefully removed from their families.
Furthermore, despite the character’s Alice Springs origins, the book’s usage of the Gamilaraay language shows a lack of cultural realism. According to Wiradyuri author Dr. Anita Heiss, the representation is a “colonial lens” that distorts First Nations narratives.
