Almost one month after being accused of plagiarism by author and founder of popular online cooking site RecipeTin Eats, Nagi Maehashi, influencer baker Brooke Bellamy of Brooki Bakehouse notoriety has spoken out about the accusations.
In a newly released Instagram reel Bellamy seemingly addressed the claims, saying her recipes are all “inspired by somewhere or someone”.
“Since opening my bakery three years ago and sharing my life online, I’ve never had such a long break between videos,” she says in the video.
She then went on to add: “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.”
The Bake With Brooki author also went on to address the backlash she faced following the claims while addressing a lack of female representation in the field.
“I never subscribed to be a part of a narrative that pits two women against each other especially in the same industry,” she says.
“I think there’s room for everyone, especially more women in business.”
Fans were immediately divided over the post with one fan commenting, “Accountability, WHERE?!” whereas another wrote, “Great to see you back 🩷”
The RecipeTin Eats & Brooke Bellamy Allegations, Explained
Claims of plagiarism first originated from Maehashi in late April and saw Bellamy face an onslaught of backlash online.
In a series of posts on the RecipeTin Eats Instagram, Maehashi alleged that her recipe for caramel slice and baklava had been plagiarised in Bellamy’s cookbook. The influencer chef then shared side-by-side screenshots comparing her work with the recipes in Bellamy’s bestselling cookbook, Bake With Brooki.
“When you see your recipes in a $4 million book,” the post begins.
“I’m no stranger to seeing my recipes being copied online,” it reads. “But seeing what I believe to be my recipes and my words printed in a multi-million dollar book launched with a huge publicity campaign from one of Australia’s biggest publishers was shocking.”
Bellamy responded to the initial allegations in a lengthy statement via her Instagram, denying all claims.
“I did not plagiarise any recipes in my book which consists of 100 recipes I have created over many years,” she wrote.
“On March 2020, RecipeTin Eats published a recipe for caramel slice. It uses the same ingredients as my recipe, which I have been making and selling since four years prior.”
She also went on to mention Maehashi, writing: “I have great respect for Nagi and what she has done in recent years for cooks, content creators and cookbooks in Australia – especially as a fellow female entrepreneur.”
Penguin Random House, publisher of Bellamy’s book, also denied the allegations.
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