MasterChef Australia fans slam judges for elimination upset: ‘I want to talk to the manager’

MasterChef Australia contestants Mimi, Sav, Pezza, and Harry faced off in a high-stakes battle for the top four on Sunday night.

Nat, who won the last immunity guarantee in the competition, watched on as the contestants were tasked with creating a dish using an extreme ingredient.

Mimi incorporated the bitter gourd into her dish, Sav chose the Carolina Reaper chili pepper while Pezza and Harry both opted for the Époisses cheese.

Harry presented a gnocchi Époisses, and Sav offered a Carolina Reaper Prawn Consommé. 

Meanwhile, Mimi served up a soft-shell crab don with bitter gourd kimchi, and Pezza went for an eye fillet, which fans labelled a ‘deconstructed steak sandwich.’

In the end, Mimi was sent home after failing to impress the judges, leaving viewers in an uproar. 

Social media users were quick to share their disappointment over the unexpected elimination.

‘It’s a crime she was eliminated…poor judging,’ one fan wrote. 

Another outraged viewer demanded, ‘I WANT TO TALK TO THE MANAGER,’ in all caps.

The backlash continued with viewers questioning the judges’ decision to keep Pezza in the competition despite his controversial dish, even labelled ‘basic’ by Andy Allen.

‘Stupid result Mimi’s cooking was far superior to Pezza’s average dish,’ one said.

Nat, who won the last immunity guarantee in the competition, watched on as the contestants were tasked with creating a dish using an extreme ingredient but in the end, Mimi (pictured) was sent home after failing to impress the judges

Social media users were quick to share their disappointment over the unexpected elimination

‘Are you serious. WTF. How did that piece of steak keep him in this. What a bloody joke,’ another commented.

‘By this logic, I’m also a top 4 cook in MasterChef. I can absolutely nail a cook on a steak. I can caramelise onions. I can melt cheese and smear it on a plate. Blair can also talk in the 3rd person. #MasterchefAU absolutely stupid judging tonight,’ a user blasted. 

The 2024 season is still ongoing, but Network 10 have already confirmed the program will return in 2025 with judges Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin.

Viewers were in an uproar over the shock elimination and questioned the judges’ decision to keep Pezza in the competition despite his controversial dish

The panel of four made their debut in season 16 this year after Andy, 36, was the only judge to return to the show from last year’s panel.

Melissa Leong was dropped from the series and Jock Zonfrillo tragically died in April last year, just one day before season 15 was set to air.

Andy, who joined the panel in 2020, admitted he was unsure about returning after the devastating loss of Jock but decided his friend would have wanted it.