MasterChef debuted in 2013 on La 1. Its eleventh edition reached the network on March 27, 2023 and has already been involved in a great controversy. Over the years, the culinary ‘talent show’ in its different versions, such as MasterChef Celebrity and MasterChef Junior, has led to numerous controversies. Spectators and even some applicants have not hesitated to criticize the production.
The latest controversy over the format is related to the outdoor test broadcast on April 9, recorded at the Oceanogràfic in Valencia. A seafood menu caused mass food poisoning in dozens of aquarium workers. One of the diners brought it to light on Twitter, indicating that Public Health had investigated the case. The producer of the program confirmed it and regretted what happened.
Patricia Conde was expelled in the final of MasterChef Celebrity 7, where she admitted that she was overwhelmed and could not give 100%. She received harsh criticism from Jordi Cruz: “You have been an absolute disappointment.” She posted an incendiary message on Instagram, although she later edited it. In it, she accused those responsible for the program of manipulation and sabotage. In addition, she stated that two of her classmates used drugs during the recordings.
Verónica Forqué left MasterChef Celebrity 6 in a delivery issued on November 22, 2021. The applicant said that she was not feeling well and that she was not able to move on. “I can’t take it anymore… My body and the universe were telling me ‘you need to stop’.” The lifeless body of the actress was found in her house less than a month later, so many viewers related her death to her passing through the contest.
Xuso Jones, who competed in MasterChef Celebrity 3, attacked the format in an interview: “I lost seven kilos in 10 days by seeing things that didn’t add up to me.” The singer defined his experience as “fucking shit” and “traumatic.” He explained how those responsible for the production sabotage the work of the applicants: “There comes a point of tension that you think if you are crazy. The team does it so that later a person comes to yell at you.”
María del Monte left the first edition of MasterChef Celebrity. She did so making it clear that she was not enjoying her experience in the ‘talent show’ and criticized the jury for her ways when addressing the contestants.
Different editions of MasterChef Junior were criticized for promoting Nutella in their tests. Many viewers pointed out that it is an unhealthy product and that RTVE was doing surreptitious advertising, a matter for which the format had already been fined.
MasterChef Celebrity 5 removed some scenes starring Florentino Fernández after repeated criticism for homophobia. The comedian played Flosie several times, parodying a homosexual man who tried to kiss Pepe Rodríguez.
Viewers have charged MasterChef on multiple occasions for its treatment of animal products. The children of the Junior editions had to kill a live eel, skin a rabbit and pluck a quail.
Jesús Castro and Jordi Cruz experienced a high-tension confrontation on MasterChef Celebrity 5. The judge negatively assessed both his dishes and his attitude and asked him if he wanted to argue with him. The actor replied: “How? If I look for it? No. And you with me?” Some time later, the Andalusian criticized the format on his networks: “My experience was nil, I did not adapt to the type of program and the keys they played for them to have content.”
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