The dispute centers around claims made by established food authors Nagi Maehashi and Sally McKenney, who accuse influencer Brooke Bellamy of duplicating their recipes in her recent cookbook, "Bake with Brooki." As the matter escalates, questions of recipe originality and the ethics of food content creation are being scrutinized.
Recipe Controversy: Influencer Brooke Bellamy Accused of Plagiarism by Established Authors
Recipe Controversy: Influencer Brooke Bellamy Accused of Plagiarism by Established Authors
Two acclaimed cookbook authors have raised alarms over TikTok influencer Brooke Bellamy's alleged recipe copying, igniting a debate on originality in the culinary world.
Two well-known food authors have raised concerns over alleged plagiarism by TikTok influencer Brooke Bellamy, as claims have surfaced regarding similarities between their recipes and those featured in Bellamy's recently published cookbook, "Bake with Brooki."
Nagi Maehashi, the founder of the popular food website RecipeTin Eats, expressed her frustration after a reader pointed out "word-for-word similarities" between her caramel slice recipe and one from Bellamy's book. Maehashi, who has built a strong online presence with 45 million page views monthly, also noted distressing parallels between her baklava recipe and Bellamy's rendition.
In response, Ms. Bellamy, owner of the multi-branch Brooki Bakehouse and a TikTok sensation boasting two million followers, staunchly rejected the allegations, asserting that her cookbook comprises "100 recipes I have created over many years." She emphasized that one recipe in question predates Maehashi’s publication.
The controversy took a further turn when U.S. author Sally McKenney, known for her website Sally's Baking Addiction, echoed Maehashi's claims, accusing Bellamy of misappropriating her vanilla cake recipe for inclusion in the cookbook.
Faced with the allegations, Maehashi revealed that she contacted Penguin Random House Australia, Bellamy's publisher, which then brought in legal expertise that Maehashi described as "intimidation." She stated, "It feels like a blatant exploitation of my work...used in a book for profit, without permission."
Despite the legal disputes, both Bellamy and her publisher firmly denied any wrongdoing. Penguin Random House Australia affirmed that the recipes originated from Bellamy, while she explained her intention to prevent additional conflict by offering to remove contentious recipes from future editions.
Both authors’ cookbooks have attracted recognition, being shortlisted for the upcoming Australian Book Industry Awards. Substantially, McKenney remarked on Instagram, "Original recipe creators who put in the work deserve credit—especially in a best-selling cookbook." As discussions around recipe creativity and ownership intensify, this incident shines a light on the complex dynamics of the modern culinary landscape.
