Source : Perth Now news
After taking a break for a few weeks to “pause and reflect”, Brooki Bakehouse’s Brooke Bellamy has broken her silence after plagiarism allegations were levelled against her, saying it’s time to get back to work.
The food fight that broke the internet last month started when RecipeTin Eats author Nagi Maehashi accused Bellamy of reproducing her caramel slice recipe in Bellamy’s book, Bake With Brooki.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Baker breaks silence over copycat claims.
“This is a story about a multimillion-dollar cookbook by a social media influencer, published by a blue-chip publisher, featuring numerous recipes that, in my opinion, are plagiarised, given the detailed and extensive word-for-word similarities to mine and those of other authors,” Maehashi said at the time.
Bellamy was hit by a second accusation by US baker Sally McKenney, of Sally’s Baking Addiction, who claimed Bellamy’s vanilla cake recipe was suspiciously similar to her own.
The controversy didn’t stop there, with Maehashi herself accused of plagiarism by celebrity chef Luke Mangan.
Bellamy and Penguin Random House Australia, which published her book, have denied the copying allegations.
As the baking pans began to cool off, Bellamy came forward on Saturday to address the controversy and announce that she’s ready to get back to her bakery.
“I’ve never experienced something like I have over the last few weeks,” she told her 2 million supporters on TikTok.
“When I was invited to make a cookbook, I was really excited to share all the recipes I’ve been making since I was small.”
Bellamy said while she had been inspired and influenced by bakeries and bakers the world over, her biggest inspiration was her mother, who taught her how to cook and bake.
“These recipes have been written down on paper, handed to me by friends and family, they get passed down by generations, they get scaled up and scaled down in the bakery settings.
“While all of these recipes are personal to me, I cannot say that I have invented the cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or cakes in the recipe book.
“They are all inspired from somewhere and someone before me.”
Bellamy said food has always been a shared experience for her and she “never subscribed” to “a narrative that pits two women against each other, especially in the same industry”.
“I think there’s room for everyone, especially more women in business,” she said.
Brooki Bakehouse’s celebrated its third birthday on Saturday at their Valley location in Brisbane, with people lining up in the early hours of the morning for free cookies and to snap a picture with Bellamy.
There are no known legal proceedings against Bellamy at this time.
