In a shocking turn of events in the Australian culinary scene, Nagi Maehashi, the founder of the popular food blog RecipeTin Eats, has publicly accused Brooke Bellamy, a rising TikTok star and owner of Brooki Bakehouse, along with Penguin Random House Australia, of copyright infringement. The allegations stem from Bellamy's bestselling cookbook, Baking With Brooki, which has quickly become a sensation since its release in October 2024.
On April 29, 2025, Maehashi took to her website to outline her claims, stating, "This is a story about a multi-million 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." She specifically pointed out similarities between her recipes for caramel slice and baklava and those found in Bellamy's book.
Maehashi elaborated on the situation, noting that she first contacted Penguin Random House regarding her concerns on December 4, 2024, after receiving an email from a reader who noticed striking similarities between her caramel slice recipe and the one published in Baking With Brooki. The reader remarked, "Even to my novice eye, I noticed that her recipe seemed to replicate Nagi’s almost exactly albeit a few changes in wording." This prompted Maehashi to investigate further, leading her to discover what she believes are multiple instances of plagiarism.
In her statement, Maehashi expressed her disbelief at seeing her recipes appear in a book that had been heavily marketed and had garnered over $4.6 million in sales within just six months, with nearly 93,000 copies sold as of April 23, 2025. She stated, "To me, the similarities between the recipes in question are far too specific and detailed to be dismissed as coincidence." The cookbook, priced at $49.99, has quickly gained traction due to Bellamy's significant social media following, which includes nearly 4 million fans across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Maehashi's accusations do not stop at her own recipes; she claims that other authors have also been affected by Bellamy's cookbook. While she refrained from naming these authors out of respect and legal considerations, she did mention, "One particular recipe by a very well-known, beloved cookbook author bears similarities so detailed, extensive, and specific that, in my view, dismissing it as a coincidence would be absurd." This broadens the implications of the allegations, suggesting a pattern of potential infringement that could affect multiple creators in the culinary space.
In response to Maehashi's claims, Penguin Random House has categorically denied any wrongdoing. According to a statement from the publisher's legal team, "Our client respectfully rejects your clients’ allegations and confirms that the recipes in the BWB Book were written by Brooke Bellamy." As of now, Bellamy has not publicly commented on the allegations, and Maehashi reported that she also reached out to her directly but received no response.
Maehashi's decision to go public with her concerns was not made lightly. She acknowledged the risks involved, stating, "I’ve spent many sleepless nights fretting over it, and many hours writing it. The easiest and safest path would be to stay silent. I know there’s risk that legal action may be brought against me for speaking out, and it’s daunting to take on a major publisher and an influencer with a huge TikTok following. But I’m going ahead because, in my heart, I know it’s the right thing to do." Her commitment to standing up for original creators highlights a growing concern in the food industry regarding the importance of credit and integrity.
Fans of RecipeTin Eats have rallied in support of Maehashi, expressing their outrage on social media. Many have taken to Bellamy's Instagram to voice their disapproval, with comments such as, "How dare you plagiarise @recipe_tin disgusting," and "Apologise to @recipe_tin!!!!!" In light of the controversy, Bellamy has disabled comments on her latest post, although comments remain open on her other posts.
As the situation unfolds, Maehashi has made several requests to Penguin Random House, including the withdrawal of the book, crediting her recipes, or making a charity donation in lieu of financial compensation. Interestingly, a new edition of Baking With Brooki has been released featuring a different caramel slice recipe, yet other recipes that Maehashi claims were copied remain unchanged.
Despite the ongoing legal wrangling, Maehashi's primary sentiment is one of disappointment. "If there’s one word that summarises how I feel about this whole situation, it’s not anger or resentment or bitterness. It’s disappointment," she shared. "Brooke Bellamy – It didn’t have to be like this. If you had asked for permission, I would have given it and, knowing me, proudly promoted your book on launch. It costs nothing to credit." This sentiment resonates with many in the culinary community who value originality and respect for creators' work.
The controversy surrounding Baking With Brooki has ignited a broader discussion about originality and credit in the food industry, prompting many to question the boundaries of inspiration versus plagiarism. As the culinary world watches closely, the outcome of this dispute may set important precedents for how similar cases are handled in the future.
