Meghan Markle has been accused by fans of displaying bullying behaviour towards a TV host, after new claims emerged ahead of her appearance on MasterChef Australia this week. The Duchess of Sussex will appear as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia this Sunday, July 26, at 7pm local time on Channel 10 Australia.
Meghan's appearance was filmed back in April, when the duchess and her husband visited Australia. The episode will see the duchess focusing on seasonal produce and personal stories and asking contestants to prepare a “dish fit for a duchess” from her personal selection of produce and pantry items. Prince Harry’s wife will appear alongside MasterChef Australia judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Tensions Behind the Scenes
A new teaser showed the duchess having a jolly time with Ms Yeow; however, recent reports suggested their relationship was not as smooth during filming. Australian magazine New Idea claimed that cracks began to show when some of the contestants allegedly “gravitated towards” Ms Yeow for “reassurance and feedback” rather than focusing on the duchess.
“It was a bit awkward at times. You could tell Meghan was wondering what was going on,” a source said.
Another uncomfortable moment between the two women came when Ms Yeow introduced Meghan as “royalty” after being told not to, which left the Sussex team “frustrated,” according to news.com.au. The TV host said in the episode: “We’ve had royalty in the MasterChef kitchen before, but no one like this. All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.”
Reactions and Apologies
Ms Yeow was reportedly left “upset” over the incident and wanted to apologise. A source said: “It wasn’t about Meghan personally. Poh felt she had been unintentionally drawn into a royal protocol issue she never intended to be part of. She was willing to reach out immediately. But she was advised to leave it for production to handle.”
They added: “There was no tension whatsoever, but it did feel like everyone was working hard to create those picture-perfect TV moments.” Another source said: “Poh is full of energy – she’s always joking and lifting the mood. She tried to bring that same spark with Meghan, cracking a few playful lines, but not all of it landed as intended. It wasn’t major drama, just a few awkward moments during filming that were adjusted in the final edit. Meghan was a great guest, and we feel very lucky she agreed to appear on the show.”
Fan Criticism
Fans have taken aim at the duchess for creating drama when not needed. One user said on Instagram: “Meghan Markle bullying allegations strike again. The number of times we’ve heard the same allegation is crazy, and now it’s getting really embarrassing. She can’t even go on a show without trying to create issues about random things, like the fact that she is called royalty — a title she herself uses.”
A second one observed: “Not everyone can be wrong. Take out the common denominator.” A third one wrote: “Ms Markle is predictably divisive.” Meanwhile, another user said on X: “Meghan ‘the bully’ Markle strikes again…How many bullying allegations does this make? I’ve lost count.” A second one blasted: “She can't go anywhere without causing a drama.”
Positive Remarks from Fellow Judges
Ms Yeow previously told Channel 10 about Meghan being a judge: “This was actually quite clear about wanting to get to know the contestants better. And she said, you know, you know these guys, but I don't, so I really would like to see some stories and, yeah, food that's gonna show us their personalities.”
Sofia Levin, another judge on the show, said: “She's a home cook and she's a gardener herself. So, when you think about it, you know, we're getting more and more connected to our food.”
