Meghan Markle’s controversial appearance as a guest judge on ‘MasterChef Australia’ has drawn harsh criticism from viewers after an extended preview of the episode aired. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, filmed the episode in April while touring Australia with Prince Harry. Subsequent footage drew widespread derision from online critics who called her performance “awkward” and inauthentic.
A social media user slammed Meghan Markle’s ‘MasterChef Australia’ appearance, describing her on-screen gestures as “awkward” and “creepy”. Image credit (Instagram).
Another viewer added: “Not an ounce of authenticity to be detected.”
Another viewer claimed Meghan Markle’s appearance as a guest judge lacked authenticity, saying they couldn’t detect “an ounce of authenticity”. Image credit (reddit)
While a third commentator questioned the alignment between Markle’s stated values and her public persona, asking: “Sense of humour? Loving language? Nurturing? When have any of these things ever been associated with Meghan?”
A commenter questioned whether Meghan Markle’s comments about humour, education and connection match her public persona. Image credit (reddit)
Additional criticism focused on his perceived effort to present himself as relatable. “Silent, smug, smarmy and trying too hard to act, bad, relatable,” one user railed, summing up a wider sentiment among viewers who found his appearance as a guest judge unconvincing and inconsistent with his established public image.
Meghan Markle’s advice to the contestants
During her appearance, Markle offered guidance to competing home cooks on managing kitchen pressure. “There is a lot of pressure in the kitchen. I don’t like to cook like that. I like to cook in a very relaxed way. So all I can say to the contestants is just remember to have fun, keep a sense of humor and cook with your heart,” she said while wearing a black blouse and her brunette hair styled long and wavy.
During her guest appearance, Meghan Markle described cooking as her “love language” and said that preparing meals is how she expresses her care for family and friends. Image Credit (Instagram)
Edible flowers and designer items
The episode harkened back to Markle’s previous lifestyle TV series, as producers highlighted what they described as her “signature items” available to contestants in the pantry. When fresh edible flowers were displayed, Markle expressed enthusiasm. “Edible flowers. I love that!” he noted, drawing parallels to the dried flower petals he had famously incorporated into nearly every dish during his early television work.A voiceover during the segment reinforced this connection to his past television appearances. “A wise contestant could include them, as Meghan often did on her show,” the narrator declared, as clips from her former series played on the screen, showing Markle sprinkling dried petals over various foods, including fruit platters arranged in decorative patterns.
Meghan Markle’s ‘love language’ comment
In another confessional segment, Markle used what observers noted as familiar rhetorical patterns from her earlier work. “Food and cooking for me is really a love language. I think it’s a great way to connect. It’s something that can feel sentimental and meaningful, and it’s how I show my education to my friends, my family, my kids,” she stated, using terminology consistent with the language she had used in her previous series.The mixed reception to her appearance on “MasterChef Australia” reflects the continued public scrutiny of Markle’s television and media efforts since her transition from acting to public-facing work in the royal sphere and beyond.