MasterChef judge Melissa Leong hits back at “favouritism” allegations after contestant Tessa Boersma claimed she has favourites: “I take my job very seriously.”
MasterChef judge Melissa Leong has hit back at long-standing claims of favoritism for the hit show.
Speaking to Now to Love this week, the 40-year-old said she never has favorites and “takes her job very seriously”.
It comes after former contestant Tessa Boersman became frustrated with what she perceived as favoritism from Judge Melissa.
MasterChef judge Melissa Leong hit back at allegations of “favouritism” this week after contestant Tessa Boersma claimed she has favourites: “I take my job very seriously.”
“Of course you like her, but we still judge the food on the plate at the end of the day,” Melissa told Now to Love’s TV Week.
“As much as we love spending time with them, I think any judge must remain impartial in this regard.”
She added, ‘Once the competition is over or someone leaves and I’ve had some kind of connection with them, maybe I stay in touch with them on some level, but when it comes to competitions I take my job very seriously.’
“When the competition is over or someone leaves and I’ve had some kind of connection with them, maybe I stay in touch with them on some level, but when it comes to competitions, I take my job very seriously,” Melissa said
In 2020, New Idea reported that contestant Tessa Boersman was frustrated with what she perceived as favoritism from judge Melissa Leong.
Tessa reportedly worried that Melissa would favor the other chefs in the competition.
At one point during filming, Tessa apparently got emotional during an exchange with Melissa after one of the challenges.
Claims: In 2020, New Idea reported that contestant Tessa Boersman was frustrated by what she perceived as favoritism from judge Melissa Leong. Tessa reportedly worried that Melissa would favor the other chefs in the competition
Daily Mail Australia contacted Melissa about the claims at the time.
Melissa joined MasterChef Australia for the first time in 2020, alongside new judges Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen.
That same year she announced her split from husband Joe Jones and is now dating Melbourne-based hair entrepreneur Rob Mason.
New flame: Melissa is dating Melbourne-based hair entrepreneur Rob Mason