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Britain’s celebrity chef nearly has his own goose cooked
Britain's celebrity chef Jamie Oliver almost cooked his own goose when he wore a T-shirt bearing the legend "Tamil Tigers" during a TV show in Australia. Not only did angry viewers Down Under smother him with e-mails but an Asian newspaper in London was among the London media that also picked up the story.

"Eastern Eye", which calls itself the Voice of Asian Britain, contacted Sunday Times columnist Neville de Silva last week for reactions to what viewers saw as an affront, inadvertent or otherwise.

The Eastern Eye reported Sri Lankan journalist Neville de Silva as saying that he was ashamed that such a well-known person should wear such an offensive T-shirt.
"If I bought a T-shirt with a logo or emblem such as Tamil Tigers I would have asked myself why was I wearing it? At least the word Tiger should have interested Jamie, quipped Mr de Silva."

"I'm not sure how he got hold of it, but there is a Terrorism Act under which the Tamil Tigers are banned and displaying any sign or logo is a violation of that Act".
Mr de Silva said that the lack of awareness was a disappointment, especially in the case of high-profile personalities, Eastern Eye said.

The newspaper quoted Jamie Oliver's spokesman as saying that the words "Tamil Tigers" was printed on it in English and revealed that the item of clothing had been brought back from a trip to America.

He said: "It's a simple mistake on Jamie's part. He's not an expert on the Indian sub-continent. There have been about 15 complaints mostly from Australia and New Zealand."

Later Neville de Silva shot back a letter to the editor saying that it is not only Oliver who is ill-informed but also the spokesman. The Tamil Tigers have been banned under British law not under a law in the subcontinent and this and the activities of the Tigers have been widely publicised in the British media.

So to say that Oliver is not sufficiently versed in Indian subcontinental politics because he spends most of his time in the kitchen simply does not wash.
In the meantime the 28-year-old chef has used his website to extend a profuse apology.

"My sincerest apologies for causing any offence.......Until I received your e-mails I was unaware of the activities of the Tamil Tigers and I was horrified to hear about the death, destruction and violence that they have done as well as recruiting and abusing young children to carry out their tactics.

I hope that all of you will realise that this was an innocent mistake.”

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