Celebrity Cooks Clash Over Recipe Plagiarism Claims: Nagi Maehashi vs Brooke Bellamy

Australian celebrity cook Nagi Maehashi has accused fellow food influencer Brooke Bellamy of copying two recipes from her popular blog, RecipeTin Eats, in Bellamy’s best-selling cookbook Bake with Brooki.

The dispute, which erupted publicly on social media this week, centers on recipes for caramel slice and baklava, with Maehashi claiming the similarities are “too precise to be a coincidence.”

The Accusation

Maehashi, known for her blog and cookbook Tonight, shared a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday morning. She alleged Bellamy’s book, published by Penguin, copied the exact ingredients and step-by-step instructions for the two recipes. “Seeing my work printed in a million-dollar book, backed by a major publisher, was shocking,” Maehashi wrote. She revealed a reader first alerted her to the similarities in November 2022.

Despite fearing legal repercussions, Maehashi decided to speak out: “I’ve lost sleep over this. Taking on a big publisher and a TikTok star is daunting, but silence feels wrong.” She emphasized that while recipe overlaps happen, the “level of detail” matched her own work too closely.

Bellamy and Penguin’s Response

Bellamy denied the claims hours later, stating she had used the recipes for years before Maehashi published them. On Instagram, she wrote: “I’ve sold these recipes commercially since 2016. When RecipeTin shared a caramel slice in 2020, I noticed similarities but didn’t act.” Bellamy added she offered to remove the recipes from future editions to avoid conflict.

Penguin’s lawyers also rejected the allegations, calling them “unfounded.” The publisher has not commented further.

Sales and Stakes

Maehashi highlighted the financial stakes, noting Bake with Brooki sold 92,849 copies (worth ~$4.6 million AUD) since its 2022 release. The book narrowly beat Maehashi’s Tonight in a 2022 Christmas sales battle.

Copyright 

The case raises questions about recipe copyrights in Australia. While exact ingredient lists aren’t protected, unique instructions or presentations can be. Maehashi admitted she’s unsure if her recipes qualify but stressed she’d have freely shared them if asked. “It’s about credit, not money,” she said.

Public Reaction

Fans are divided. Some support Maehashi, calling the similarities “blatant.” Others side with Bellamy, noting recipe inspiration is common. Food bloggers and chefs have weighed in, debating where inspiration ends and plagiarism begins.

Broader Implications

The feud underscores challenges in the digital cooking world, where viral recipes spread rapidly. As Bellamy noted, “Recipe development thrives on shared ideas.” Yet creators like Maehashi argue proper credit is essential, especially when profits are involved.