MasterChef viewers call out “creepy” moment between guest judge and Brendan Pang
MasterChef fans on social media were left feeling uneasy after an awkward moment during Tuesday night’s intense pressure test.
The episode saw contestants Brendan Pang, Reece Hignell, Poh Ling Yeow and Sarah Tiong, tasked with recreating a flavour-packed and super spicy jungle curry without a recipe.
But a clearly stressed out Brendan didn’t know how to react after he received a strange comment by the guest judge – one many have surely been faced with before – and it rubbed viewers the wrong way.
As the 24-year-old sweated profusely and panicked over his curry paste, guest judge Benjamin Cooper of Chin Chin Melbourne told him to “smile”.
“You want some advice?” Benjamin had asked while Brendan stressed over his curry.
“I saw you smile earlier on … I feel like there's a bit of cheekiness in you,” he said.
“Lose the stress, bring the cheekiness back. Don't be afraid to load it up with chilli. Don't be afraid to bring a bit of fun back to the dish. And enjoy it, 'cause cooking stressed isn't going to give you the result you want.
“Show me the smile,” he added, to which Brendan laughed awkwardly.
“I'm trying to smile!” he said.
Fans called the moment out as “awkward”, “cringe” and even “weird and uncomfortable”.
Errrrmmmm... I’m getting bad juju from the Chin Chin dude. The way he approached Brendan and asked him to smile. Sooo awks. *shudder* #MasterChefAU
— Nikki Rivera (@twitnikki) June 9, 2020
the chef from Chin Chin asking Brendan to “show me that smile” gave me big men asking women to smile energy
it felt weird and uncomfortable? #MasterChefAU— Isha Bassi (@Isha_Bassi) June 9, 2020
Brendan has 10 minutes to cook his curry AND remember to smile. #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/1Wtv90pUeu
— Tara Watson (@tara_watson_) June 9, 2020
But despite the strange moment, the judges loved Brendan’s version of the jungle curry.
Instead, Sarah Tiong was sent home after her curry broth was deemed “too thin”.