MasterChef’s Melissa Leong on death of friend and co-star Jock Zonfrillo

MasterChef’s Melissa Leong explains she’s taking time to grieve the death of friend and co-star Jock Zonfrillo – after fans questioned why she didn’t take part in tribute

Melissa Leong has explained that the grieving process is a quiet one for her, after she was criticised for not taking part in a special tribute to late co-star Jock Zonfrillo.

The MasterChef Australia star writes in her column for this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine that there is no wrong way to grieve. 

‘We all deal with loss differently, and we need to honour that’ the 41-year-old said. 

‘Some people need to talk in order to process emotions, while others take more time to find the words, if they can at all’ she continued. 

‘Some people need to be with people, while others need time alone to stare at a wall, clean incessantly or sleep.

Melissa Leong (centre) has explained that the grieving process is a quiet one for her, after she was criticised for not taking part in a special tribute to late co-star Jock Zonfrillo (left)

‘There is no right or wrong way to be in these moments, just what is true to you’. 

Melissa sparked concerns after she failed to take part in The Sunday Project’s  moving tribute to Jock Zonfrillo following the MasterChef Australia star’s shock death at age 46. 

Jock’s fellow judge Andy Allen and renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Curtis Stone all shared their memories in the heartbreaking special. 

Conspicuously missing was Jock’s co-star Leong, who did not appear in the program. 

MasterChef fans posted to Twitter wondering why Melissa was absent, with several speculating that she was too grief-stricken to take part. 

The MasterChef Australia star writes in her column for this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that there is no wrong way to grieve

The MasterChef Australia star writes in her column for this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine that there is no wrong way to grieve

 ‘Is it weird that Melissa isn’t part of this?’ asked one person on Twitter, with several others replying. 

‘It is a bit, yeah…’ agreed one person, but others felt differently.  

‘No? Everyone grieves differently. It might be still too soon for her to speak/open up. I hope she’s okay,’ said one. 

Another wrote: ‘Andy was struggling enough. I’m thinking Melissa just couldn’t do it. Everybody grieves differently, and people only discuss that grief when they are ready (if ever).’

Someone else said: ‘Not at all. If you’re not in the space to do it, you cannot do it’, while one more agreed, ‘I don’t think she could do it. She was shattered. 

‘Maybe she’s still processing it and it would be to much for her,’ yet another said. 

Zonfrillo was found dead by police at a hotel in Melbourne 's inner-north at about 2am on May 1, the same day Channel Ten was meant to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef

Zonfrillo was found dead by police at a hotel in Melbourne ‘s inner-north at about 2am on May 1, the same day Channel Ten was meant to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef 

Earlier this month, Melissa pulled out of a scheduled event at the Sydney Opera House following the death of her co-host Jock.

Leong was meant to host a live Q&A with American cookbook writer Alison Roman but it was announced that she would no longer be attending. 

‘Following the sad news of the passing of her colleague and friend Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong is no longer able to join Alison Roman in conversation on Tuesday, May 9,’ a Sydney Opera House spokesperson said in an email sent to ticketholders.

Replacing Leong was MasterChef Australia season two winner Adam Liaw. 

Zonfrillo was found dead by police at a hotel in Melbourne’s inner-north at about 2am on May 1, the same day Channel Ten was meant to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia. 

Read more in this week's issue of Stellar Magazine

Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine 

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk