The Great British Bake Off has been accused of ‘borderline racism’ by viewers.
During Tuesday night’s episode, contestants decided to cook Chinese treats for ‘Japanese week,’ – with one amateur baker styling her first creations to look like Pandas – leaving fans of the Channel 4 show extremely offended.
For their first challenge, contestants were tasked with creating Japanese steamed buns, but rather than opting for traditional Hirata buns, the bakers chose to go for Chinese, Indian and American-style fillings.
Oh dear! The Great British Bake Off has been accused of ‘borderline racism’ by viewers
Japanese Hirata buns, otherwise known as ‘bao’ in China, usually contain pork chashu, tempura, karaage, or other fillings.
And so, viewers were bemused when some contestants opted for Chinese style fillings, while others went for Indian and American takes on the classic Japanese dish.
Hermine even styled her ‘chicken nikuman’ buns into Pandas, which originate from central China.
Nikuman is the Japanese name for the Chinese baozi. It is a kind of chūka man, also known in English as pork buns.
Buns: For their first challenge during Thursday night’s episode, contestants were tasked with creating Japanese steamed buns
Pandas!? Hermine styled her ‘chicken nikuman’ buns into Pandas, which originate from China
What the…? But viewers were bemused when some contestants opted for Chinese style fillings, while others went for Indian and American takes on the classic Japanese dish
Burger buns? Japanese Hirata buns, otherwise known as ‘bao’ in China, usually contain pork chashu, tempura, karaage, or other fillings
Japanese buns: Hirata buns are a traditional Japanese food
Taking to Twitter, those who tuned into the show voiced their fury, with one enraged viewer tweeting: ‘I am SO offended by tonight’s #GBBO So ignorant and racist. You’d think in the age – and climate – they’d do better.
‘It not only insulted us Japanese, they’ve insulted the Chinese – and everyone’s intelligence.’
Someone else tweeted: ‘I had hopes for Japanese week but generalising all Asian food with Japan feeds the racist narrative that all Asians are the same, which is not cool in any time but especially now as East Asians are being racially abused due to Coronavirus.’
Chinese buns: Nikuman is the Japanese name for Chinese baozi – a kind of chūka man, also known in English as pork buns
Dahl? Marc decided to go for an Indian take on traditional Chinese buns
Racist narrative: ‘Generalising all Asian food with Japan feeds the racist narrative that all Asians are the same,’ said one furious viewer
‘Why is everyone cooking Chinese on Japanese week? This is so rude/racist #gbbo.’ added another.
‘It’s JAPANESE week, people. Not CHINESE Week. #GBBO,’ pointed out another fan of the show.
Someone else asserted: ‘This is an absolute trainwreck of an episode. It’s borderline racist #GBBO.’
Going into more detail, one viewer explained: This racist a** ‘Japanese week’ episode of #GBBO being: Bao (Chinese food) ‘Kawaii Cake’ (not a thing!) Matcha Mille Feuille (fair enough).
Fan reaction: Taking to Twitter, those who tuned into the show voiced their fury
‘Imagine being this much of a flop when Japan has so much delicious cuisine. Plz try harder!’
Someone else tweeted: ‘But Pandas are from China, not Japan, bit racist really #GBBO.’
One viewer also claimed that Matt Lucas had blocked her on Twitter, positing that it could be because he ‘knew the user would tell him to stop making racist jokes on #GBBO.’
MailOnline has contacted The Great British Bake Off for comment.
Yikes! One viewer also claimed that Matt Lucas had blocked her on Twitter