On Friday, ex-My Kitchen Rules star David Vu pleaded guilty to cocaine possession at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
Also in court on Friday was Masterchef judge George Calombaris, who will learn his fate after pleading guilty to assaulting a teenager.
The pair join a curiously long list of famous Australian chefs who have ended up in hot water with the law.
Couldn’t handle the heat: On Friday, My Kitchen Rules star David Vu (L) and Masterchef’s George Calombaris (R) joined a curiously long list of famous Australian chefs who have ended up in hot water with the law
Over the past decade, they’ve undone the once clean squeaky image of the celebrity chef, fostered by the likes of Ian ‘Huey’ Hewitson and Maggie Beer.
Australian audiences are still transfixed with the genre, but over time, it’s become an arena for the toughest, most prickly characters to be lauded over by the massive.
Some, like UK’s Gordon Ramsay, have managed to stay be tough in the kitchen and upstanding citizen in the real world.
But with multiple drug arrests, drink driving convictions and even child pornography charges, just who are the celebrity chefs who couldn’t handle the heat?
Tarnished? Over the past decade, some bad eggs have undone the once clean squeaky image of the celebrity chef, fostered by the likes of Ian ‘Huey’ Hewitson and Maggie Beer
Fire not fury: Some, like UK’s Gordon Ramsay, have managed to stay be tough in the kitchen and upstanding citizen in the real world, while those who couldn’t handle the heat have paid the price
David Vu – Cocaine Possession
Cocaine possession: This wasn’t the exclusive lists David Vu expected to find himself on after he and his friend Betty Banks placed third on My Kitchen Rules 2017
This wasn’t the exclusive lists David Vu expected to find himself on after he and his friend Betty Banks placed third on My Kitchen Rules 2017.
But on Friday, he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, which he allegedly told police he bought in a Sydney nightclub.
A document tendered to the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday alleged Vu volunteered to police that he had 0.46 grams of the drug.
Possessing a prohibited substance carries a maximum two years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $2,200.
Guilty plea: But in Downing Centre Local Court, on Friday, he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine in which he allegedly told police he bought in a Sydney nightclub
Grim: A document tendered to the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday alleged Vu volunteered to police that he had 0.46 grams of the drug
George Calombaris – Underpaying Staff And Assault
Join the club: While My Kitchen Rules star David Vu was facing drugs charges, George Calombaris, a judge from rival show Masterchef, was facing-up for his own transgressions
While My Kitchen Rules star David Vu was facing drugs charges, George Calombaris, a judge from rival show Masterchef, was facing-up for his own transgressions.
Although the matter was adjourned until October, the 38-year-old has already pleaded guilty to the crime: assaulting a teenager.
During the A-Leage Grand Final between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in May Calombaris approached a 19-year-old heckler, allegedly punching him in the gut.
Gutted: During the A-Leage Grand Final between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in May Calombaris approached a 19-year-old heckler, allegedly punching him in the gut
In Friday’s hearing, Magistrate David Price said:’It’s an assault in public and I have agreed facts that he approached the victim and punched him in the lower abdomen.’
Mr Price said the agreed facts stated Calombaris said: ‘You’re a big mouth man, you’re a f**king c***.’
Common assault, with which the chef has been charged, carries a maximum two years of imprisonment or a fine of up to $2,200.
It’s been a rough year for the celebrity chef, who was forced to apologise in April after his MAdE Establishment underpaid restaurant staff $2.6 million.
Hearing: In Friday’s hearing, Magistrate David Price said:’It’s an assault in public and I have agreed facts that he approached the victim and punched him in the lower abdomen.’
Tough year! It’s been a rough year for the celebrity chef, who was forced to apologise in April after his MAdE Establishment underpaid restaurant staff $2.6 million
Filippo Silvestro – Four Charges, Including Dangerous Drug Supply, Possession And Tainted Property
Busted: In 2015, Police allegedly found 2012 Masterchef contestant Filippo Silvestro with 150 ecstasy pills and around $16,500 in cash, with the 2012 contestant reportedly preparing to enter a plea this year
In 2015, Police allegedly found 2012 Masterchef contestant Filippo Silvestro with 150 ecstasy pills and around $16,500 in cash.
He was arrested by police in Brisbane’s CBD, after officers allegedly found the drugs and cash.
In March this year, the Courier Mail reported that Filippo was preparing to enter a plea for the offense.
The financial planner made the top 16 on the 2012 season of the TV cooking competition, but was eliminated when a Quiche Lorraine went disastrously wrong.
Curtis Stone – Drink driving
Redeemed: He’s now been redeemed in the eyes of international audiences, but hunky Coles ambassador and My Kitchen Rules guest Curtis Stone has a checkered past
He’s now been redeemed in the eyes of international audiences, but hunky Coles ambassador and My Kitchen Rules guest Curtis Stone has a checkered past.
In May 2009, Curtis was arrested in Los Angeles and was kept in jail overnight, after blowing 0.1 on a blood alcohol test.
He was reportedly released from custody after stumping-up US$5,000 bail, later pleading guilty to the offence in court.
He was fined $350 and given a three-year probationary licence.
Arrest: In May 2009, Curtis was arrested in Los Angeles and was kept in jail overnight, after blowing 0.1 on a blood alcohol test
Ben Ungermann – Drink driving
Hot water: 2017 Masterchef finalist Ben Ungermann was charged and reportedly convicted for drink driving offences on July 4
2017 Masterchef finalist Ben Ungermann was charged and reportedly convicted for drink driving offences on July 4.
Brisbane Magistrates court found the father-of-three engaged in drink driving on May 26 and he was banned from the roads for two-months and fined $400.
At the time, The Courier Mail reported Ben told Magistrates he ‘blamed the pressure of Masterchef’ for the occurrence.
In a letter penned to the court, he insisted the show’s strict rules affected his mental state before the incident, which also involved a minor crash.
‘Since being back from the competition, I suffered from waves of depression and felt very lost in the real world,’ he wrote, according to the publication.
Drink driving: Brisbane Magistrates court found the father-of-three engaged in drink driving on May 26 and he was banned from the roads for two-months and fined $400
Matt Michaelis – Convicted of receiving stolen goods, speeding and driving while disqualified
Bad wrap: After his 2009 aired, reporters learned My Kitchen Rules star Matt Michaelis had been handed suspended jail terms for offences including receiving stolen goods, speeding and driving while disqualified
It wasn’t until after his 2009 season had finished airing that reporters discovered My Kitchen Rules star Matt Michaelis had a criminal rap sheet spanning nearly a decade.
In 2010, The Daily Telegraph reported the South Australian contestant had been handed suspended jail terms for offences including receiving stolen goods, speeding and driving while disqualified.
Despite his misdemeanor offences, Channel Seven stood by the contestant, who had admitted to his mistakes and hadn’t been back in the bad books since.
The network said the contestant entered the show ‘for all the right reasons,’ and added: ‘everyone deserves a second chance.
It was a rough year for reality TV, with The Biggest Loser forced to re-edit a season after contestant Deryck James Ward was charged and later jailed for child pornography offences.
Rough year: It was a rough year for reality TV, with The Biggest Loser forced to re-edit a season after contestant Deryck James Ward was charged and later jailed for child pornography offences